Series Re-cap
Game 1 – Suns 5 Lookouts 3
Game 2 – Suns 12 Lookouts 3
Game 3 – Suns 6 Lookouts 1

Tonight the Chattanooga Lookouts had a mountain that seemed too high to climb. They arrived in Jacksonville after a 460 mile drive down 2-0 to the Suns in the Southern League championship series. The Lookouts played very well down the stretch to gain a playoff berth in the Northern Division of the league. Jacksonville had played even better having won five of six playoff games and fifteen of their last sixteen contests overall. Part of that run was the two games in Chattanooga in which they dominated the Lookouts, especially in the second game.

To add to the challenge for the Chattanooga squad Jacksonville turned to left-hander Justin Nicolino to start the third game in the series. Nicolino was selected as the Southern League’s “Pitcher of the Year” at the end of the regular season. He posted a 14-4 record with a 2.85 ERA which was the best in the league in 2014. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft. Nicolino who was traded by the Jays to the Marlins in the Mark Buerhle trade is ranked as Miami’s number four prospect by MLB.

Left-hander Justin Nicolino, a second round draft pick in 2010, was too much for the Lookouts on Friday afternoon. (Photo credit – Cliff Welch)

The Lookouts countered with Jeremy Kehrt who joined the team in early August making his first start on August 12th against the Suns. He came away with a 4-0 decision in that game. He made four starts during the month with a 1.69 ERA. Kehrt received a no decision in his only post-season start with the Lookouts. He pitched five innings while allowing just four hits and one Huntsville run in Game Three of the Northern Series.

The Suns have enjoyed a walk-a-thon in the series provided by the Lookouts pitchers They received 10 free passes in each of the first two games. Conversely in the first two games the Suns pitchers walked only one hitter in each game. Jeremy Kehrt proceeded to walk the first hitter he faced in today’s game. After a fly out the lead off walk came around to score. It was followed by a single and a three tun home run by Viosergy Rosa making the mountain even higher for the Lookouts.

In the bottom of the third inning Lookouts manager Razor Shines tried to begin the climb up the mountain. With a runner on first base and one out he replaced starter Jeremy Kehrt with Michael Thomas going with a lefty-lefty match up. Thomas retired Viosergy Rosa who had homered in the first inning.

Thomas in turn was relieved by Onelki Garcia in the bottom of the fifth inning. Garcia immediately walked Suns lead off hitter Austin Nola. Right on cue, Austin Barnes doubled to drive in Nola who had walked increasing the Suns lead to 4-0. Barnes was then driven home on a single by Brady Shoemaker. Freddie Cabrera replaced Garcia to close out the inning.

Through six innings Justin Nicolino allowed six scattered hits, walked two and struck out three. Daniel Coulombe became the Lookouts fifth pitcher of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Suns onslaught continued as Coulombe sandwiched a strikeout between two doubles and another run scored. scored with Jacksonville now leading 6-0.

Nicolino returned for the seventh inning. With two out and Darnell Sweeney on second base he was replaced by Reid Redman who struck out Bobby Coyle Jr. to end the inning. Ralston Cash entered the game in the bottom of the inning retiring the side on a strikeout and a double play.

Chris O’Brien opened the ninth inning with a double to right field. O’Koyea Dickson followed with a single. O’Brien broke the shutout scoring on a fly ball by Jeremy Hazelbaker. Darnell Sweeney ended the game on a ground ball to second base.

The one bright spot of the Southern League Championship Series was Lookouts catcher Chris O’Brien, who went 6 for 12 (.500) with a home run and seven RBIs.
(Photo credit – Tim Evearitt)

Catcher Chris O’Brien had three hits in Friday’s loss to raise his playoff batting average to .391.