Rays, Lookouts Split DH
July 2, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Orlando Rays News Release
Chattanooga, Tenn. â After two days of rain and a tropical storm the Orlando Rays and Chattanooga Lookouts finally got on the field to play some ball Wednesday, splitting a doubleheader to kick off the teams' final meeting of the 2003 regular season.
The doubleheader of two seven-inning games was necessitated in part by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Bill, which rolled through the Chattanooga area on Tuesday and washed out the originally-scheduled Tuesday night Rays â Lookouts doubleheader. Tuesday's postponement will force Orlando and Chattanooga to play back-to-back doubleheaders tonight and tomorrow â the second time in two weeks the Rays will play doubleheaders on consecutive days (6/20 and 6/21 vs. Birmingham).
GAME 1 â Lookouts 4, Rays 3
The Rays squandered a two-run lead over the final two innings as Chattanooga rallied to beat Orlando in their last at-bat, taking the series opener 4-3.
Leading 3-1 entering the sixth inning, Orlando starter Scott Autrey turned the game over to the bullpen, but the Lookouts got to reliever Josh Parker (0-1), who took the loss after allowing a pair of runs â both earned - over one inning pitched.
Dan DeMent went 2-3 with one RBI and one run scored for the Rays, while B.J. Barns went 1-2 with a double in the opener.
GAME 2 - Rays 9, Lookouts 4
Jonny Gomes started the game off in style, leading off the game with a solo home run and staking the Rays to an early 1-0 lead. Orlando never looked back, pounding out nine runs on 12 hits and taking advantage of three Chattanooga errors as the Rays won the nightcap 9-4.
Jose Veras (4-7) earned the win after allowing two earned runs on five hits over five innings pitched. Chattanooga managed to put two more runs on the board in the seventh off reliever John Benedetti but never mounted a serious comeback. Gomes, DeMent and Chairon Isenia each drove in two runs for the Rays, who improved to 4-9 in the second half of Southern League play. Gomes finished with a 2-4 night that included the homer, double, two RBI and two runs scored.
Orlando and Chattanooga square off again tomorrow in a doubleheader, with RHP Matt White (0-3, 6.07) and LHP Jon Switzer (5-8, 3.86) taking the mound for the Rays.
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Southern League Stories from July 2, 2003
- Rays, Lookouts Split DH - Orlando Rays
- BayBears celebrate Independence Day Thursday - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies Split Double Dip - Knoxville Smokies
- Braves blank Suns, 1-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Langerhans named top Old Navy Slugger for June - Mississippi Braves
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