Wahoos Fall In Series Opener With Lookouts

May 13, 2013

The Chattanooga Lookouts broke out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed in a 10-4 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Sunday night in front of 4,421 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was the Wahoos’ fifth straight loss, tying a season high.

The Lookouts were in control from the onset, scoring in the first frame on a fielder’s choice from Blake Smith. They would add to their lead in the third with three two-out runs. Smith doubled home a run and scored on a two-run homer from Chris Jacobs that made it 4-0.

Pensacola battled back in the last of the third, scoring three runs with two outs. Ryan LaMarre sparked the attack with a solo homer, his second of the season. After back-to-back walks, Travis Mattair doubled to right-center to cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Lookouts would get a run right back, however, as former Blue Wahoo Miguel Rojas launched his first homer of the year leading off the fourth to make it 5-3.

The Wahoos had numerous chances to get back in the game against an erratic Chattanooga pitching staff, but could never get the tying run across. In the fifth, Pensacola had the bases loaded and one out before Danny Vicioso grounded into an inning-ending double play. In the sixth, Brodie Greene cut the Lookouts’ lead to 5-4 with a one-out double but he was stranded at third as the tying run. Two innings later, Greene doubled with one out but he was caught stealing when he was hung up between second and third on a ball in the dirt.

That play changed the momentum as Chattanooga put the game out of reach with a five-run ninth inning. C.J. Retherford provided the biggest blow with a three-run pinch-hit double to make it 8-4 followed by Jan Vazquez providing the exclamation point with a two-run homer off the videoboard in right field to account for the final margin.

Chad Rogers (2-2) was charged with the loss in his roughest outing of the year, yielding five runs on eight hits in five innings.

Pensacola wasn’t able to fully capitalize on nine base hits and 10 walks issued from Chattanooga pitching as the Wahoos tied a season-high with 12 runners left on base. Michael Thomas (1-0) was given the win in relief by firing 2.1 scoreless frames and striking out four.

The five-game series continues on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It will be a battle of southpaws as Ryan Dennick (1-2, 3.44) goes for Pensacola against Chattanooga’s Chris Reed (1-3, 5.02).

story by Kevin Burke

Pictured: Ryan LaMarre led the Pensacola attack by going 3-for-3 with a homer and an RBI. (Christopher Nelson)

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports