Levi Michael was the hitting hero of today's come-from-behind victory.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Before a nice Sunday afternoon crowd of 3,359 fans at AT&T Field, the Jacksonville Suns (10-13) fell victim to a 14-13 walk-off defeat at the hands of the Chattanooga Lookouts (12-11) thanks to Levi Michael's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
The Suns starter Chipper Smith lasted 4 1/3 innings allowing five earned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five. Greg Peavey lasted 3 2/3 innings surrendering seven earned on 10 hits while not walking a batter and striking out four.
Inning-by-inning game recap.
The teams combined for 30 hits and 27 runs in a game that took 3:00 hours. The Lookouts went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position while the Suns were 8-for-17. In all likelihood, the game was going to belong to the team that has the last bat -- in this case, that was Chattanooga.
Fans were treated to seeing what may have been the longest home run ever hit at AT&T Field. Miguel Sano blasted a ball off the clock that sits atop the scoreboard in left field
Nick Burdi (W, 2-3) earned the victory for Chattanooga out of the bullpen although he would allow go-ahead run in the ninth.
Sean Donatello tried to nail down the save for the Suns in the bottom of the ninth, but instead allowed the game-winning single to Levi Michael. Donatello would surrender two earned runs on three hits while walking two and not striking out a batter.
Jacksonville kicked off the scoring with a run in the second and two in the third. In the bottom of that inning Chattanooga roared back from the early deficit. Max Kepler began that inning with his second triple of the season and scored on a Suns' error. After a single by Heiker Meneses, Byron Buxton belted his third triple in two games to plate two more runs. With three runs already on the board the team added three more on a DJ Hicks single and a two-run home run by Sano. Chattanooga would now posses a 6-3 lead through three innings..
Jacksonville wouldn't trail for long. With two men on, Matt Juengel would provide a RBI single to bring the Suns deficit to within two runs. Rosa then knotted the score at six, when he mashed a double that brought home a pair of baserunners. Adams finished off the frame putting the Suns back on top after mashing a two RBI double to create a 8-6 cushion over the Lookouts.
This seesaw affair continued with more offense in the bottom the fourth. First a Hicks run producing single brought the Lookouts to within a run. Next man to the plate Hicks would tie the score at eight apiece, via a sacrifice fly that plated Turner.
In the last of the seventh, Lookouts Adam Walker crushed his sixth homer of the year, a solo blast over the left field wall, putting Chattanooga back in front with a 9-8 lead.
The top of the eighth would see Jacksonville put together a four spot to take the lead once again .
Rosa got it started with a RBI single that tied that tied the score at nine. Next batter Zack Cox provided an encore with a RBI single of his own to put the Suns up 10-9. Carlos Lopez manufactured the big blow when he ripped a two-run double to provide a pair of insurance runs and a 12-8 scoreboard advantage.
The score shifted when in the the bottom of the frame Chattanooga would tie the score. First Michael's two-run triple brought his team to within one, then Sano's sac fly would bring in Michael to make it 12-12 through eight innings.
In ninth the Suns would once again take the lead after Austin Nola's sacrifice fly sent home Wilson from third after is one out triple. Jacksonville now would lead 13-12.
Chattanooga would rally working the bases loaded against Suns closer Donatello. Shortstop Heiker Meneses would work a bases loaded walk to knot up the scoring. With the bases still full, Michael would end the game with his walk-off single to left that earned the Lookouts a 14-13 victory.
With the crowd roaring its approval, the team rushed the field to congratulate Michael on his clutch hit.
After a much needed night of rest both teams will take the field again Monday evening at 7:15 p.m. for the fifth and final game of the series. Starting pitcher RHP DJ Baxendale (2-0, 1.07) is set to toe the rubber for the Lookouts against RHP Kendry Flores (1-3, 3.57).
Miguel Sano is congratulated by manager Doug Mientkiewicz after his gigantic home run.
photo by Tim Evearitt