The Chattanooga Lookouts and Huntsville Stars squared off in the third game of their Southern League play-offs on Saturday. The series was knotted at one game apiece following the first two games in Huntsville.

Several members of the Huntsville team will play in the Arizona Fall League including outfielder Tyrone Taylor, first baseman Nick Ramirez, catcher Shawn Zarraga along with pitchers Brook Hall and Tyler Wagner. The Lookouts have four players who will also participate in the fall league – pitcher Michael Thomas, shortstop Corey Seager, second baseman Darnell Sweeney and outfielder Scott Schebler. The players from both teams will be teammates in the AFL with the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Lookouts manager Razor Shines adjusted his lineup for the third game hoping to generate some offense. Darnell Sweeney returned to second base in place of Angel Sanchez who had started the first two games at second.. Sweeney had been playing center field in those games. Noel Cuevas was inserted at center field while Bobby Coyle Jr. replaced Jeremy Hazelbaker in left field. The Huntsville line up featuring seven left-handed hitters did not change from game two.

Left-hander Michael Strong started for the Stars. He was making his second appearance with Huntsville after his call up from the Bevard County Mantees of the Advanced A Florida State League. Right-hander Jeremy Kehrt started for the Lookouts. He had been acquired from the Boston Red Sox for cash after Lookouts starting pitcher Chris Reed was promoted to the Albuquerque Isotopes. Kehrt had been playing with the AA Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. With the Lookouts he went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts.

Kehrt has an interesting breaking ball. Not a true curve, maybe a slurve, he is not sure what it is but, “…it does different things.” The Lookouts announcer referred to the breaking pitch as a “burve.”

The Stars started the first inning with two straight hits, a seeing eye single and a bloop single. Kehrt pitched around the two hits and escaped the inning without giving up a run. Following the hits he retired nine consecutive hitters.

Michael Strong retired eight straight hitters until Bobby Coyle Jr. hit a double in the third inning and was thrown out at third base on a controversial call trying to stretch it into a triple. Through three innings Strong struck out five Lookouts.

Kehrt also had five strikeouts midway through the fourth inning but in the fourth he served up two walks and two singles leading to the game’s first run. In the bottom of the inning lead off hitter Darnell Sweeney collected his first hit of the series, a double down the right field line. Noel Cuevas was unable to advance him as he popped up a bunt on the first pitch to him. Scott Schebler then struck out but Sweeney was able to use his speed to score on a single by Daniel Mayora who battled Strong and eventually won the battle.

Darnell Sweeney used his speed to put the Lookouts on the board in the 4th inning.
(Photo credit – Tim Evearitt)

Chris O’Brien worked a walk to lead off the fifth inning. Michael Strong who appeared to tire was replaced by right-hander Jacob Barnes who was brought in to face right-hand hitting O’Koyea Dickson. Barnes proceeded to retire Dickson, Bobby Coyle and pinch hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker.

Ralston Cash replaced Kehrt in the top of the sixth inning. Cash has played most of the season with the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League. In eight innings with the Lookouts Cash has a 3.24 ERA with 10 strikeouts. Although he made 37 pitches in two innings he struck out all six Huntsville hitters he faced.

Corey Seager led off the seventh inning with his first hit in the series and the Lookouts fourth hit in the game. Chris O’Brien advanced Seager to second with a sacrifice bunt. Following an intentional walk to O’Koyea Dickson pinch hitter Angel Sanchez lined a single to left field scoring Seager. Jacob Barnes was replaced by 6’ 8”, 235 pound Greg Holle who then retired the side.

Jhan Marinez entered the game in the top of the eighth and proceeded to sandwich a strikeout in between two walks. Manager Razor Shines replaced Marinez with left-hander Daniel Coulombe most likely before he wanted to do so. Coulombe retired the Stars inducing a weak roller to the infield and followed that by striking out Josh Felhauer who had hit a grand slam in Huntsville on Friday.

Daniel Coulombe returned to the mound in the ninth innings and completed a very quick five out save preserving the Lookouts 2-1 win.

Game four in the series goes on Sunday at Chattanooga.