Lookouts' Schebler hits three homers

Scott Schebler already found his way into the history books once this season. On Tuesday night, he joined some very select company.

The Dodgers' No. 9 prospect capped a three-homer night with an inside-the-park shot as Double-A Chattanooga blanked visiting Jacksonville, 5-0.

Schebler put the Lookouts on the board quickly, slugging a two-run blast in the bottom of the first. Two innings later, he grabbed the Southern League lead with his 23rd long ball of the season, a solo shot off Suns starter Jose Urena.

Schebler capped his historic night with an inside-the-park homer in the fifth.

"The guy threw me a changeup and I was out in front and I hit in the right-center field gap, and it looked like he caught it," he said. "They both dove and one guy dove under it and another dove over it. At first, I thought they caught it, but the umpire waved safe.

"I didn't see the ball, but it was going to the fence. I thought they were going to stop me at third, but they just kept waving me. If they would have made a good throw they would have got me, but I got a little lucky."

Schebler, who was intentionally walked in the seventh, recorded the Lookouts' first three-homer game since Reggie Jefferson on July 18, 1989. It was the latest accomplishment for the 23-year-old outfielder, who hit for the cycle on June 1 against Mobile.

"It's something pretty nice, it's something pretty special," Schebler said. "This league is pretty tough, so you take home runs whenever you can get him. I happen to put a good day together, so I'm pretty happy."

With 24 homers, Schebler passed Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant -- who was promoted to Triple-A on June 19 -- for the top spot in the Southern League. The Iowa native is batting .282 and ranks third in the circuit with a .921 OPS.

"Pretty good," he said of his first season at Double-A. "I wouldn't have the lead if Kris Bryant were still here, I'll tell you that. I feel good about it. There's some things I would change, but that's baseball.

"Early on, I didn't take to Double-A too great. I overthought it at the beginning and didn't let myself play my game. I got out of it, and thank goodness I did."

With Schebler providing all of the offense, Andres Santiago (4-7) pitched the Lookouts to their 10th straight win. He gave up three hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings.

Urena (10-8), the Marlins' No. 9 prospect also went five frames and surrendered four runs on seven hits.