Lookouts Rally But Fall Short In 10-8 Loss At Pensacola

Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson launched a two-out, three-run blast in the fifth inning and Pensacola held on to defeat the Chattanooga Lookouts, 10-8, Friday in front of 4,688 fans at home.

In his third start at Double-A, things didn't go well for Stephen Gonsalves. He was roughed up for six runs in 3.2 innings of work. He struck out eight and walked two as his Double-A ERA is now over 8.00.

Omar Bencomo allowed two runs (one earned) in 1.1 innings while striking out three. Luke Westphal didn't stop the scoring, as he gave up a pair of runs in two innings of work. Trevor Hildenberger was the only pitcher to put a zero on the board bolstered by a Travis Harrison home run..

The Lookouts jumped out to a first inning 2-0 thanks to a two-run shot off the bat of Mitch Garver. Things would go quiet on the offensive side until the sixth when Niko Goodrum hit a one-out double before SL Player of the Month Daniel Palka knocked him in with a single, his 62nd RBI this year.

Chattanooga did their best to come back in the late innings with a five-run eighth frame that was it.

After taking a 10-3 lead, Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez let Chattanooga back in the game in the eighth inning. Gonzalez allowed the Lookouts to scored five runs to pull within, 10-8. Gonzalez gave up a two-run homer to left fielder Travis Harrison and got only one out before being lifted for Blue Wahoos closer Alejandro Chacin.

The Blue Wahoos sent all nine batters to the plate and scored five runs on five hits in the fourth inning to go ahead, 6-2. The key hit was Pensacola catcher Hudson connecting on his first home run of the season over the left field wall. The two-out, three-run blast put Pensacola up, 5-2.

Pensacola had tied the game, 2-2, earlier in the fourth when left fielder Phillip Ervin smacked a low liner into left field, stole second base and scored when first baseman Ray Chang hit a high fly ball in shallow centerfield that landed in for a double when Chattanooga center fielder Niko Goodrum fell down.

The Blue Wahoos scored its sixth run of the game, 6-2, when center fielder Jeff Gelalich singled to right field to score DH Calten Daal, who got on base with his 15th infield single of the season.

Chattanooga had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when first baseman Daniel Palka walked with two outs and then scored on catcher Mitch Garver's seventh home run of the season for the Lookouts.

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Pensacola hosts the fourth game of a five-game series at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against the Minnesota Twins Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts. Pitching for the Lookouts is RHP Aaron Slegers (6-4, 3.38), who is going against Blue Wahoos RHP Sal Romano (1-8, 4.82).