[tenthreeleader]

Series 4 – Chattanooga Lookouts (8-7) at Jackson Generals (9-6)
Game 1 - April 21

Francisco Romero looked in at Sawyer for the sign. Ninth-placed hitter Jose Barraza stood in the left-handed batters box, taking short warmup strokes with his bat.

The righthander delivered, and the Jackson Generals’ catcher lofted a fly ball to deep right-center field. Defensive replacement Tanner English got a good jump on the ball, and when it was apparent the ball was going to stay in the park, Romero raised both his arms over his head.

English made the catch, and general mayhem ensued on the field.

Romero had pitched the season’s first no-hitter, a 5-0 gem that had the Lookouts back into a share of first place.

Ordinarily, the minor leagues are a place of strict pitch counts, player development and doing things the organization’s way. But Rob had let Romero work the ninth for obvious reasons – and his masterpiece was completed with only 104 pitches, 65 of them strikes.

He had faced the minimum 27 batters as well. The only two baserunners he allowed in the game – thirdbaseman Juniel Querecuto on a hit by pitch in the fourth and shortstop Josh Prince on an eighth-inning walk – were erased on double plays.

Romero had fanned six and looked ready to pitch another nine innings.
Gordon and Corcino hit back to back solo homers in the third inning to give Romero all the support he would need, but Zander Wiel hit a solo shot in the fourth.

Gordon’s two-run single in the sixth made it 5-0 and chased Generals starter Joel Payamps. It raised his average to .324 and helped show why he was the best shortstop in the Southern League.

By then the only question was whether the Generals would manage a hit. Romero made sure the answer was “no”.

In talking with Ward after the game, Rob was effusive in his praise of both his stars. Cave was also at .382 and as hot as anyone, and Sawyer was at .345.

“There’s really no telling what this group is capable of doing,” he said. “Once we get a few things ironed out, I think we’re going to be just fine.”

The very next day, the Twins organization shuffled the deck.

Gordon was called up to Rochester and little-used pitcher Francis Chavez was demoted. Zack Littell came off the disabled list and pitchers Adam Bray and Kohl Stewart came up from Toby Gardenhire’s Fort Myers Miracle. Shortstop Nelson Molina would be asked to fill Gordon’s shoes, and they were quite big indeed.

Lookouts 5, Generals 0

# # #