Pensacola rally drops Chattanooga Lookouts

photo Lookouts

After Friday and Saturday night games at AT&T Field drew a combined crowd in excess of 11,500, Chattanooga Lookouts general manager Rich Mozingo realizes today's 2:15 start with a 95-degree thermostat will result in a sharp decline.

"At least the sun will not be directly in anybody's eyes," Mozingo said.

Mozingo can laugh about the occasional slow day at the park because there have been so many bustling evenings. The Lookouts, who lost to Pensacola 6-4 Saturday before 5,146 fans and dropped to 1-2 in the Southern League's second half, continue to produce one of their best seasons at the turnstiles in the past decade.

Chattanooga's average attendance of 3,882 is outdistancing last season's average of 3,409, and Scott McCreery's appearance Friday night resulted in the third sellout of the season at the 6,340-seat facility.

"It's been a fantastic year for us," Mozingo said. "If we do the exact same thing as last year from this point forward, we will have a fantastic year."

With steamy settings commonplace during the season's second half, Mozingo always is looking for ways to spice up the schedule. The July 3 game against the Tennessee Smokies, which will be followed by fireworks celebrating Independence Day, is certain to sell out, and there are not one but two scheduled "Used Car Nights."

To celebrate 20 years of Used Car Nights in Chattanooga, the Lookouts will hold that event Aug. 4-5.

"On the 20th anniversary, you've got to give away 20 cars," Mozingo said.

Chattanooga jumped on Pensacola with a three-run first inning that was highlighted by Brahiam Maldonado's two-run home run to left field. The Lookouts regained a three-run advantage at 4-1 in the fourth, when a Nick Buss double down the right-field line scored Griff Erickson.

The Blue Wahoos quickly reversed fortunes at pitcher Matt Magill's expense by tallying five runs in the fifth inning. Yordanys Perez hit a bases-clearing double to right-center to give Pensacola its first lead at 5-4, and Beau Mills followed with a homer to right-center.

Aaron Miller (4-4, 4.12 ERA) is scheduled to start today's game for the Lookouts, with Daniel Corcino (3-4, 3.34) scheduled for the Blue Wahoos.

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