Despite falling behind 6-0, the Lookouts, led by an eight-RBI performance by Luis Nunez, came from behind to defeat the Tennessee Smokies, 11-6, in Tuesday night action at AT&T Field.
Tennessee jumped all over Lookouts starting pitcher Zach Lee, who was making his AT&T Field debut, early on. The Smokies exploded for five runs in the first, highlighted by a three-run triple by Michael Burgess and a subsequent Nelson Perez RBI double.
Another run was added to the Smokies’ total in the top of the third, but the Lookouts negated that advancement with a run of their own in the bottom portion of the inning. Blake Smith led off the inning with a single and eventually came home on a Nunez double to left.
Chattanooga kept chipping away at the Smokies’ lead in the fifth with another run. Brahiam Maldonado led off the inning by legging out a triple. After a Pedro Baez strikeout, Luis Nunez hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Maldonado.
The Lookouts’ resiliency paid off, as four runs crossed the plate to tie the game in the sixth. Nick Buss began the rally with a triple, which resulted in him crossing home on a relay throwing error by second baseman Logan Watkins.
Blake Smith then nailed a single and advanced to third on a subsequent triple from Maldonado. Baez then struck out, but Nunez came through with a two-RBI single to extend the rally.
A throwing error by center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha allowed Nunez to advance to third on the play, which allowed him to score on a single by Jake Lemmerman. After the dust settled, the Lookouts found themselves tied, 6-6.
Chattanooga kept its foot on the pedal in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Pedro Baez drew a walk from Kevin Rhoderick (2-4) to give the Lookouts the lead, and Nunez delivered the coup de grace with a grand slam to put the Lookouts up for good, 11-6.
Logan Bawcom prevented the Smokies from scoring in the ninth, preserving the win for Steven Ames (1-1), who pitched the eighth for the Lookouts.
The Lookouts will hit the road Wednesday to play three against the Huntsville Stars and then three more against the Tennessee Smokies. The Lookouts will return home on July 11 to play a three-game homestand against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
