Granite’s game-winner lifts Lookouts past Smokies

The Chattanooga Lookouts used Zach Granite’s single in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Tennessee 4-3 Thursday night at AT&T Field Thursday night.

The Lookouts (18-15 in the second half) won their second consecutive game in the five-game set after dropping game one when Granite’s one-out single to center scored Edgar Corcino, who had led off the ninth with a single against Smokies’ (13-19) reliever Nick Sarianides. Corcino was sacrificed to second by Engelb Vielma and moved to third on Levi Michael’s single before Granite’s walk-off hit.

The single made Chattanooga reliever Raul Fernandez (2-1) the winner after the right-hander pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.

Chattanooga starter David Hurlbut had another strong outing, going seven innings and allowing one run on four hits and striking out six. However, the bullpen couldn’t hold a 3-2 lead as Mason Melotakis was touched for a run in the eighth after a two-out walk and Victor Caratini’s RBI double tied the game.

The Lookouts had taken a 3-0 lead after two innings against Tennessee starter Michael Wagner. Mitch Garver’s one-out double scored Ryan Walker in the first, while Corcino and Michael had RBIs in a second inning that featured a pair of stolen bases.

The Smokies got two runs back in the fourth on Gioskar Amaya’s RBI double and Ben Carhart’s run-scoring groundout, but Hurlbut, who lowered his ERA to 3.50, sat down the the final seven batters he faced before exiting.

Game four of the series is at 7:15 tonight, with the Lookouts’ Felix Jorge (0-2, 5.85) going against Smokies ace Brad Markey (6-2, 2.66).