The Chattanooga Lookouts needed relief from their five-game losing streak.
They got it in middle relief Saturday night.
Chattanooga beat the Carolina Mudcats 7-4 in their Southern League series opener in front of 5,492 fans at AT&T Field.
Lookouts shortstop Dee Gordon broke a 4-all tie with a two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Kenley Jansen came in for starting pitcher Mario Alvarez in the top of the sixth and worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam. The Chattanooga relievers combined for four shutout innings.
Janzen got a force-out at home and a foul pop-up before striking out Sean Henry to end the sixth-inning threat. He ended up pitching two innings with three strikeouts. Jon Huber got the save -- his fourth.
"I just came in and decided to go after the first hitter," Janzen said. "I took it one at a time and wanted to stay aggressive. It was big to get that win. We'll feel good about this."
Added manager Carlos Subero: "That was impressive. I was glad to see our relief pitching cover four scoreless innings."
Catcher Mike Rivera was 4-for-4, including the second of back-to-back home runs by the Lookouts (23-32) in the fourth inning. Rivera's solo shot tied the game at 4 after a two-run blast by Scott Van Slyke.
Chattanooga had a hard time hitting Mudcats starter Travis Webb early. Webb recorded nine strikeouts but was tagged for the consecutive homers before being pulled after five innings.
The Lookouts added to their troubles with two early errors, and an Alvarez wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed two runners to score.
Jake Kahauleilo had a run-scoring triple in the top of the first inning for Carolina (25-31).
"The way we started was not the way you like to see," Subero said. "After a day off, we were bad at the beginning."
Jaime Pedroza hit an RBI double in the third inning for Chattanooga.
Alvarez (5-3) had two strikeouts and only one walk while throwing 102 pitches.
Jesus Castillo (2-6, 2.63 ERA) is the Lookouts' scheduled starting pitcher for today's 2:15 p.m. contest against Carolina, which will start Alexander Smit (1-4, 8.39).
"I think we're starting to build character," Subero said. "We're finishing ballgames -- which we hadn't been able to do, but it's something you have to learn. It's a process, but hopefully it's starting to take place."