The Chattanooga Lookouts took the field in the second game of their divisional play-offs on Friday at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville. They held a one game lead in the play-offs having defeated the Stars 4-3 in a very tight game on Thursday. The Huntsville team claimed a play-off berth in the first half of the season by easily finishing first in the Northern Division of the Southern League. They finished 12.5 games ahead of second place Tennessee Smokies and a full 20 games ahead of the last place Lookouts. In the second half the teams changed places as the Lookouts finished first in their division and the Stars finished dead last.

Lookouts manager Razor Shines went with the same lineup that claimed victory in the first game. Steve Smith started the game. In limited time with the Lookouts in 2014 Smith posted a 3-2 record and a 2.76 ERA. In his last five games he had seven inning scoreless appearances against the Montgomery Biscuits and the Tennessee Smokies.

Right-hander Steve Smith had a rough outing in game two of the Southern League playoffs.
(Photo credit – Tim Evearitt)

The Stars have fortified their lineup with prospects who have finished their seasons at the Advanced A level in the Florida State League, including the Milwaukee Brewers number one prospect Tyrone Taylor and number two prospect Orlando Arcia.

The game did not start as Smith would have liked as he gave up two runs in the first inning on a lead off  HBP, a triple by Orlando Arcia. and an infield out. In the second inning he gave up a lead off double to speedster Josh Prince, a walk to Nick Ramirez, and an RBI single to Yadiel Rivera. With none out and runners on first and second base opposing pitcher Austin Ross tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Steve Smith made a Kershaw like play diving for a catch as Ross popped the ball up.

After three innings Steve Smith had thrown 59 pitches while Austin Ross was mowing the Lookouts down with relative ease not allowing a hit in his first three innings. I certainly wondered if the Lookouts would respond to the early 3-0 deficit with that ‘believing” spirit.

Smith did settle down until the fifth inning when another Huntsville run scored on a lead off walk to Nick Shaw, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. The Lookouts starting staff had a very strong month of August with a 2.69 ERA. However, it was not Steve Smith’s night. He only allowed five hits but four runs scored as he gave up four walks, hit a batter and had a wild pitch.

Freddie Cabrera replaced Smith with two outs in the fifth and two runners on base. Cabrera proceeded to walk the first hitter he faced loading the bases but escaped the inning by striking out Nick Ramirez who led the Southern League in strikeouts with 152 in 2014.

Meanwhile though six innings Huntsville starter Austin Ross had given up only one hit and struck out eight on 80 pitches.

Cabrera got two quick outs in the sixth inning but followed that with a walk to Nick Shaw again and two singles allowing a fifth run to score. Then it all fell apart. Another walk was followed by a grand slam home run by Huntsville left fielder Josh Fellhauer. Cabrera continued to keep the Stars lineup moving with another walk and a single. By now a mercy rule would have been a blessing with the Lookouts trailing 9-0 and the Stars having batted around in the inning. Jarret Martin followed Cabrera and did secure a third out as Yadiel Rivera lined out to first baseman O’Koyea Dickson.

Martin retired the side in the seventh inning.

Austin Ross’s night for the Stars was over after the seventh inning. He struck out eight Lookouts, induced 10 ground balls, walked one while giving up a lone hit to Daniel Mayora.

The Lookouts went quietly in the eight and ninth innings with no further hits.

All remaining games in the best of five series will be played at A T&T Park in Chattanooga starting on Saturday.