Chattanooga Lookouts frigid in 4-0 loss to Jacksonville Suns

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

The hard freeze that descended on Chattanooga overnight was expected to be difficult on some bushes and plants.

It wasn't much fun for the Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field, either. They dropped a 4-0 decision to Jacksonville on Tuesday in a game that had a wind-chill factor in the 30s throughout the evening.

"I can't stand it, and when my hands are cold, that's when I really hate it," Lookouts second baseman and leadoff hitter Casio Grider said. "I like to feel my hands when I catch the baseball, and whenever I can't, I don't feel comfortable."

The Lookouts managed just one hit and were no match for Suns starting pitcher Andrew Heaney, the No. 1 prospect in the Miami Marlins organization, according to Baseball America. The 22-year-old left-hander out of Oklahoma State allowed one hit in six innings while striking out five.

Tuesday marked the coldest game of Chattanooga's season, and it should be somewhat warmer this morning when the Lookouts and Suns resume at 11:15. Even Lookouts catcher J.C. Boscan experienced a frigid outing in his gear.

"Nobody likes cold weather," Boscan said. "The wind has been blowing in tonight, so it's been blowing into my face and making my eyes really dry. You just have to stay with it, forget about it and play the game."

The Suns took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Ryan Fisher singled past Grider, which resulted in Brady Shoemaker scoring. They made it 2-0 in the sixth, when Alex Burg doubled to right field and scored on a throwing error by Lookouts reliever Hector Nelo.

Grider hails from Loma Linda in southern California, while Boscan is from Maracaibo, Venezuela. Their hometowns Tuesday night shared the same balmy temperature of 82 degrees.

"The last time I experienced cold like this was when I was at [Single-A] Midland in Michigan," Grider said. "The first couple of weeks there were really bad. This actually would be a good night in Michigan."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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