The Chattanooga Lookouts opened their final homestand of the Southern League's first half Sunday evening, whipping the Mobile BayBears 13-5 before an announced crowd of 2,411 at AT&T Field.
Chattanooga improved to 33-23 and maintained its first-place standing in the North Division, leaving the final 14 games of the half with plenty of meaning.
"That's what makes this fun, playing games that matter and playing games that can get you where you want to go," said Brent Rooker, Chattanooga's designated hitter Sunday. "We've got a lot of college guys in our lineup who understand what that's like, because they've been through some (NCAA) regionals and some super regionals.
"I think we're set up pretty well to have some success these last two weeks and clinch the first half."
Sunday's drubbing was punctuated by a nine-run fifth inning for the Lookouts, who began their outburst with Brian Olson reaching on a throwing error and LaMonte Wade launching a home run to right field. That made it 5-0, and then BayBears relief pitcher Samil De Los Santos walked all five batters he faced and also threw a wild pitch that brought in a run.
Chattanooga is hosting Mobile through Thursday night before the Lookouts close the half with a 10-game road trip to Alabama, taking on Montgomery and Birmingham. Should the Lookouts win the first-half title, they will earn the opportunity to compete for a third league championship in four years as the Double-A affiliates of the Minnesota Twins.
"It's always nice to be in a race and to be in first place," first-year Chattanooga manager Tommy Watkins said. "I try to explain to the guys that you always want to be playing for something, and we've got a chance to play for something. I feel good about where we are. These guys go out and compete every night, and they give us a chance.
"When guys have been called up, other guys have stepped up. It's all about the opportunity."
The Lookouts raced out to a 15-2 start in May but went 3-8 the rest of the month. Their struggles coincided with Wade being placed on the disabled list and Nick Gordon being promoted to Triple-A Rochester (New York), but Watkins said Wade's return last week already is being felt.
Chattanooga's scoring output Sunday was its highest of the season.
"It's fun to be in a playoff push," Lookouts center fielder James Ramsey said. "You want to close out on a good note. You're learning a process and not chasing results, but winning is the ultimate result that we're all chasing after."
Said first baseman Zander Wiel: "I would rather have kept that long streak we had going and be up 10 games right now, but these games definitely help show what you're made of and the kind of drive you have."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.