Zebulon, NC - Kenny Kelly reached base twice in the late innings to spark Chattanooga rallies as the Lookouts defeated the Carolina Mudcats 4-2 at Five County Stadium on Thursday night.
Kelly walked to start the seventh inning against reliever Clint Sodowsky (L, 1-1, 2IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 1W, 0K) with the game tied 1-1. Kelly swiped second base, then scored on a triple by Jeff Bannon. Bannon was knocked home on a pinch-single by Guye Senjem for a 3-1 Chattanooga lead.
In the ninth, Kelly was at it again, singling against reliever Jerrod Fuell and stealing another base. A groundball advanced Kelly to third before a sacrifice fly from Jason Hill scored him for a 4-1 lead.
Carolina filled the bases in the last of the ninth on three consecutive singles against reliever Todd Coffey. Dennis Anderson (2-4, 2RBI) hit a grounder to score Pat Magness (2-4, 2R, 2B, 2K) from third base. Josh Wilson was called upon to pinch-hit with the tying runs in scoring position, but popped to right on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Ronald Belizario (ND, 6IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1W, 5K) enjoyed his best Double-A start of his career. Belizario allowed a leadoff homer to Andy Beattie in the first, but then two-hit the Lookouts (9-5) over the next six innings.
Seth Etherton (W, 3-0), a seven-game winner in the major leagues with Anaheim and Cincinnati, worked six innings, allowing only three hits with six strikeouts to remain perfect in three starts.
Carolina (8-6), dropped into third place, opens a four-game set against first-place Jacksonville beginning Friday night at the Baseball Grounds at 7:35 PM ET. Peter Bauer (1-0, 0.00) starts the opener for the Mudcats against lefty Derek Thompson (0-0, 2.00).
Chattanooga 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 --- 4 7 0 6
Carolina 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 --- 2 8 1 7
WP - Etherton (3-0)
LP - Sodowsky (1-1)
S - Coffey (1)
HR: Beattie (1)
Time: 2:47
Att: 1,282
