Chattanooga Lookouts pitcher Nathan Eovaldi pitches the ball in this file photo.Nathan Eovaldi continues to be the only winless Chattanooga Lookouts starting pitcher more than a month into the season.
Eovaldi threw five innings Tuesday night at AT&T Field, allowing four runs on seven hits -- including a triple and two doubles -- in a 6-1 loss to Montgomery. The 22-year-old Texan was 0-0 with a 2.08 earned run average when he was promoted April 27 to Los Angeles, but he returned May 1 and is now 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA.
In his two appearances before the brief call-up, Eovaldi worked the opening inning in each game.
"He's just trying to get back in shape again after throwing two innings in a three-week span," Lookouts pitching coach Chuck Crim said. "It's tough, because you get in a groove and you get rolling -- this is just tough on us and tough on our club. It's a matter of getting his command back with all of his pitches, and game reps are huge."
The Lookouts (14-19) have yet to win on consecutive nights this season at AT&T Field.
Eovaldi opened the game by walking Hak-Ju Lee and then committed a throwing error that allowed Lee to second. Henry Wrigley followed with a single to right field to put the Biscuits up 1-0.
Chattanooga benefited from two Montgomery errors in the third inning to tie the game, but the Biscuits went back up 2-1 in the fourth when a Mark Thomas two-out triple into the right-field corner scored Michael Sheridan. Montgomery extended its lead to 4-1 in the fifth on doubles by Lee and Kyeong Kang and a single by Wrigley.
"We've been doing a lot of work in the bullpen between games, so I don't feel that is an issue," Eovaldi said. "I've just been struggling, and I'm trying to work on my curveball and changeup, specifically."
Luis Vazquez replaced Eovaldi in the sixth and gave up leadoff walks to Brad Coon and Thomas followed by an Emeel Salem triple into the right-field corner that made it 6-1.
Allen Webster (1-4, 6.34 ERA) is scheduled to start this morning's 11:15 game for the Lookouts, with Kyle Lobstein (1-2, 7.52) scheduled for the Biscuits.