Lookouts Rally To Beat Suns, 3-1

In the second half of this Southern League season, comeback victories at AT&T Field have been almost as scarce as four-leaf clovers in its outfield. But Wednesday night, the Chattanooga Lookouts broke out for three big runs in the eighth inning en route to a 3-1 victory over the Jacksonville Suns.

Fans were treated to a great pitching duel between Chattanooga's LHP Rob Rasmussen and Jacksonville's LHP Justin Nicolino. 

Angelo Songco broke the spell with a leadoff pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the eighth. For the first baseman, it was his second pinch-hit clout and his fifth overall since his midseason promotion. But that merely tied the game.

Rafael Ynoa followed that with a single up the middle. Miguel Rojas failed to bunt him over, but Joc Pederson moved Rojas to third with a sharp single, setting up the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Pederson, who also advanced, then stole third (his 30th of the season), then came home on a fly ball off the bat of Brian Cavezos-Galvez.

Yimi Garcia made it stand with a one-hit ninth for his 16th save.

The three runs meant justice for Lookouts starter Rob Rasmussen, who gave up only two hits over his six innings of work. But one of them was a solo home run by the Suns' Mark Canha in the second inning. The win went to Pedro Baez (1-1), who worked two hit-less innings in back of the Lookouts starter.

For the Lookouts, 56-73 overall, the win is their fourth straight. They have not lost since being eliminated from the playoff chase. The Tennessee Smokies are running away with in the Southern League's North Division with a 7.0 game lead. Despite four consecutive losses to the Lookouts, Jacksonville is clinging to a 1.0 lead over the Mississippi Braves in the SL South Division.

The teams' six-game series ends Thursday night at 7:15. After that, the Lookouts have only five home games remaining in this largely frustrating 2013 season.