The Chattanooga Lookouts scored six runs in the first two innings and were able to hold off the Carolina Mudcats for a 6-4 victory Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.

The trouble started for Mudcats staring pitcher Brett Sinkbeil in the top of the first inning with one out. After a Michael Griffin single to right field, and back to back walks to Chris Valaika and Tonys Guttierrez, Sean Henry hit a single to right field to bring in Griffin and load the bases once again. Craig Tatum followed with an RBI single to left to bring in Valaika, and Gutierrez scored the final run of the inning when Eric Eymann was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The top of the second was similar for the Lookouts offense as three hits led to three more runs, with the final run coming off of a two-out double to right from Craig Tatum to earn his second RBI of the game.

The Mudcats crept slowly back into the game behind two RBI’s from Andy Jenkins, two runs by Manuel Mayorson, and a home run from Kris Harvey, his second in as many games.

The Mudcats (22-17) couldn’t string enough hits together to complete the comeback, as they left 12 stranded on base, including two bases loaded opportunities in both the first and seventh innings.

Sinkbeil (L, 1-5) surrendered six early runs before calming down to pitch four hitless innings in his six-inning outing. Jesus Delgado and Carlos Martinez combined to pitch three shutout innings, surrendering only one hit.

James Avery (W, 1-2) pitched five innings, giving up five hits and two runs en route to his first victory this season. The Lookouts’ (20-19) bullpen bent but did not break as they collectively gave up five hits and two runs.

The rubber game of the five-game series will be Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM ET. Marc Lamacchia (0-0, 6.00) is slated to oppose Chattanooga’s Ben Jukich (2-2, 2.41).