Article: Twins Minor League Report (9/14): Lookouts Moving On, Hurlbut Dominant

[Cody Christie]

The Cedar Rapids Kernels already moved on to the Championship Series of the Midwest League and the Chattanooga Lookouts were looking to join the Kernels by qualifying for the Championship Series in the Southern League.

 

It was going to take a strong performance from some of the Twins top prospects to push the Lookouts further into the playoffs. Which players would step up under the pressure of a postseason run?CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Montgomery 1

Box Score

David Hurlbut was on the mound for the Lookouts in this pivotal contest and he found himself in trouble early. He gave up a very long home run in the second inning and this was followed by two more hits to leave runners on the corners with two outs. Hulbut got out of the inning and he was locked in for the rest of the game.

 

From the third into the seventh inning, Hulbut retired 11 straight batters. He'd finish the night by scattering six hits, striking out four and walking two. The lone run surrendered was the solo home run in the second where the batter used an unnecessary bat flip that might have turned a switch on for Hulbut.

 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Lookouts turned four double plays with Stephen Wickens and Heiker Meneses being part of two plays each. Both men also helped out at the plate with Wickens finishing with a double and a run scored while Meneses reached base three times.

 

It seems like no Lookouts game is complete without a long ball from Adam Brett Walker and he helped cement the lead with a solo home run in the top of the eighth. It was his second home run in as many nights. Max Kepler used a walk, a double and a stolen base to score two of the team's four runs.

 

Nick Burdi and JT Chargois each pitched scoreless frames in relief of Hurlbut to close out the win. Burdi struck out one and picked up his first hold of the postseason. Chargois earned the save, though he allowed one runner to reach on a walk.

 

With the win, the Lookouts move on to the Southern League Championship Series against the Biloxi Schuckers, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The first two games of the series will be played in Biloxi on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Then the series shifts to Chattanooga for two scheduled games on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. A potential fifth game is scheduled for Monday, in Chattanooga, at a time to be determined.

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day - David Hurlbut, Chattanooga Lookouts

Hitter of the Day - Max Kepler, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Midwest League Championship Series Game 1 - Wednesday, September 16

Cedar Rapids Kernels @ West Michigan (5:35 CST) - TBA

 

Southern League Championship Series Game 1 - Wednesday, September 16

Chattanooga Lookouts @ Biloxi Shuckers (TBA) - TBA

 

Click here to view the article

[nowheresville]

The Kernels will be playing West Michigan in the MWL finals, after the Whitecaps beat the Lansing Lugnuts tonight.

 

This actually sets up a rematch of sorts of the 2007 MWL final, when the Whitecaps beat the Beloit Snappers in 5 games. This is the first time since that series that either the Twins or the Tigers affiliates have reached the finals.

 

In the 2007 Finals, West Michigan won the first 2 games at home. The Snappers, lead by Joe Benson and Chris Parmalee, fought back to tie up the series, winning games 3 and 4 in Beloit, before falling in game five. The pitcher on the mound, getting the series clinching outs at the end of the game for the Whitecaps was Casey Fien. 

[TNLooky2015]

Lookouts into SL Finals

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150914&content_id=149547528&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

[Seth Stohs]

Hurlbut has been terrific the last two years. No one talks about him. He tops out around 92, but good control and three quality pitches... Success in AA means you never know. 

[David HK]

Isn't Arcia's brother a Shucker?