Chris Withrow, Chattanooga LookoutsChris Withrow is back with the Chattanooga Lookouts, but in smaller doses.
Withrow was a starting pitcher when he went on the disabled list June 4 with a lower back injury, but he returned last Friday as a reliever. The first-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007 worked a scoreless seventh inning Monday night as the Lookouts lost 6-4 to the Tennessee Smokies at AT&T Field.
"I've actually had a lot of fun with this," Withrow said. "It's a whole different mindset. You come in as a starter, and you're looking to go six or seven innings every time. Coming out of the pen, you've got to go right after the guys.
"You don't have time to mess around with anybody. You just show them your best stuff."
Tennessee's victory halted Chattanooga's seven-game winning streak, the longest by the Lookouts this season, and dropped them to 8-4 in the Southern League's second half.
Withrow, the only current member of the Lookouts on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, allowed two walks in the seventh and struck out one. In his appearance last Friday, the 23-year-old Texan worked two scoreless innings and tallied two strikeouts.
Before this season, Withrow had made 58 starts in 58 career appearances with the Lookouts.
"The biggest adjustment is knowing that you have to get outs right now," Chattanooga pitching coach Chuck Crim said. "You've got to go to your best stuff a lot quicker, because there is no setting anybody up. It's more of an in-your-face type of approach, which is pretty much what he's been doing these last couple of times out.
"His walks tonight were on competitive pitches, and I will take that any day."
Greg Rohan's two-run double to center field highlighted Tennessee's four-run third inning that gave the Smokies a 5-0 lead. The Lookouts pulled within 5-4 in the fifth on Blake Smith's grand slam, which followed a two-out double to left by Lookouts starting pitcher Allen Webster, a walk to Rafael Ynoa and a Nick Buss single to center that loaded the bases.
Webster allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks in six innings, though he did rack up eight strikeouts.
Zach Lee (0-0, 1.50 ERA) is scheduled to start tonight's 6:15 finale of the three-game series for the Lookouts, with Trey McNutt (4-7, 4.68) scheduled for the Smokies. Seats are still available for the game, which will be followed by fireworks, but Lookouts officials are expecting their fourth sellout of the season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.