Gonsalves wins again for Lookouts

Starting pitcher Stephen Gonsalves continues to get the Chattanooga Lookouts off on the right foot.

The Lookouts began their only series this season with the Mississippi Braves on Saturday night at AT&T Field, prevailing 3-1 behind Gonsalves, who kept the Braves scoreless until being replaced by Todd Van Steensel with two outs in the sixth inning. Gonsalves reached 103 pitches, having struck out six while allowing five hits and two walks.

Gonsalves was named last Monday afternoon as the Southern League pitcher of the week for his performance against Montgomery on Aug. 17, when he threw six no-hit innings in the series opener. He then went out Monday night and allowed one run in six innings in a series-opening win at Jacksonville.

Rated the No. 9 prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization by Baseball America before the start of the season, Gonsalves is 7-0 in his past 10 starts and has racked up 84 strikeouts in his 12 Double-A starts. He has allowed one earned run all month.

The Lookouts gave Gonsalves the upper hand in the fourth inning, when Edgar Corcino’s triple to center field scored Ryan Walker and Travis Harrison to make it 2-0. Harrison homered to left in the sixth inning to extend Chattanooga’s advantage to 3-0.

Chattanooga improved to 34-27 with nine games left in the second half and to 70-61 overall.

Aaron Slegers (9-7, 3.63) is scheduled to start today’s 2:15 game for the Lookouts, with Sean Newcomb (7-7, 3.91) scheduled for the Braves. Newcomb was rated last month by Baseball America as the No. 33 overall prospect in the minors and No. 3 within Atlanta’s organization, trailing current Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson (No. 7) and Mississippi second baseman Ozzie Albies (No. 17).

Albies went 1-for-4 Saturday night.