The Chattanooga Lookouts, Minnesota’s Double-A affiliate, dropped Game 1 of their series with the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers) on Wednesday night 7-2. Looking to rebound, Chattanooga did just that behind a big night at the plate from their #6 prospect Max Kepler, and a sterling pitching performance from 24-year-old left-hander and Twins #25 prospect Jason Wheeler.
After allowing 10 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings at the beginning of August, Wheeler was sent down from his second Triple-A stint, but the turnaround was not immediate as Wheeler carried a 4.86 ERA the rest of the month and allowed 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings in his final start before the postseason. In his first playoff start, the southpaw went 6 innings, allowed just 3 hits and 1 run, walking 2 and striking out 5. On Thursday night, he improved on that performance with 7 innings of one-run ball, allowing the same number of hits, striking out the same number of batters, and allowing one more walk. With these two stellar starts, Wheeler’s ERA sits at 1.29 this postseason.
The lone run allowed came in the bottom of the 6th, after allowing three consecutive singles to start the inning (the only hits he’d allow), Wheeler would induce a ground ball to start the 4-3 double play, allowing a run to score.
Offensively, the Chattanooga Lookouts got off to a quick start in the top of the 1st when Kepler hit a solo homer to right, giving his team an early 1-0 lead. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the 5th when Kepler came up with the bases loaded and unloaded on the offering from Adrian Houser, again to right field. Kepler would finish with two home runs and 5 RBI on the night.
The Lookouts would add another run on a two-out bases loaded single in the 7th from right fielder Travis Harrison, giving Chattanooga a 6-1 lead, which would turn out to be the final score.
Brewers top prospect Orlando Arcia would go 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, while #2 prospect Brett Phillips would pinch-hit in the bottom of the 9th and fly out. Arcia and Phillips combined to go 3-for-6 with 2 homers and 4 RBI the previous night, so limiting them helped to ensure the victory for the Twins affiliate.
Biloxi starter Arian Houser, acquired in Milwaukee’s deadline deal with the Astros along with Phillips, was coming off of his first career complete game, a three-hit shutout performance against Pensacola in the semi-finals.
The two teams will take Friday off as a travel day and resume play in Chattanooga on Saturday. Tyler Wagner (2-0, 0.00 this postseason) will take the mound for Biloxi, while the Lookouts have yet to name a starter. Over 12 playoff innings, Wagner has allowed just five hits, although he has walked five, and struck out ten. The next three games (if necessary) will all be played in Chattanooga.