Mobile BayBears Outlast Chattanooga Lookouts 8-7 - AA, Southern League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - MOBILE, Ala. – 15 runs, 26 hits and eight errors is what the fans at Hank Aaron Stadium were treated to on Wednesday as the BayBears opened a five-game series with the Chattanooga Lookouts by claiming an 8-7 victory.

Bryan Byrne smashed three hits in the contest, but it was a walk in the bottom of the ninth that forced in the winning run as Chris Rahl touched the dish to break a 7-7 tie. Hector De La Cruz had perhaps his managerial moment of the season in the ninth when he called Brandon Burgess from the on-deck circle and replaced him with Guillermo Reyes in an almost certain bunt situation, but Reyes swung away and his single to right put Rahl in scoring position with no outs.

The BayBears (40-55, 11-14) had the lead early as they scored five in the first two frames with six hits and three Chattanooga (48-48, 11-15) errors. With the lead trimmed to 5-4 in the fifth, Rusty Ryal lined a two-run homer down the left field to push the advantage back up to 7-4. A solo shot by Danny Dorn in the sixth, a wild pitch in the seventh and another Dorn tater in the eighth capped off the comeback for the Lookouts, knotting the score at 7-7.

Jose Marte (4-1) recorded the final four outs and was the only BayBear pitcher that didn’t allow a run. Robert Manuel (4-2) was charged with the winning run although Carlos Fisher was on the hill when Rahl came home on Byrne’s walk.

Your Ad Here

Matt Green started for the BayBears and worked 3.2 innings while surrendering three unearned runs on six hits.

Tony Barnette (5-7, 4.36) grabs the ball for the BayBears on Thursday at 7:05 in game two of the series with the Lookouts against lefty Travis Wood (2-5, 6.43). Call for tickets at (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.

BEAR CLAWS
•  Chattanooga left 15 men on base on Wednesday as BayBear opponents have left a total of 35 on over the last two games at Hank Aaron Stadium.
•  Rahl had two hits on Wednesday, marking his third consecutive contest with a multi-hit game.
•  The BayBears are now 15-5 in games where they have hit home runs at “The Hank.”

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!