The Southern League North-leading Chattanooga Lookouts had their latest win streak end at seven games Monday.
The visiting Pensacola Blue Wahoos rebounded from a one-run deficit and dropped the Lookouts 6-1 behind the combined seven-hit pitching of starter Austin Ross and relievers Ismael Guillon and Carlos Gonzalez. It was the sixth win of the year for Ross, who gave up six hits in six innings while striking out six.
The loss was the first of the second half for the Lookouts (4-1), who scored their run in the first inning. Leadoff man Nick Gordon singled to left field and Levi Michael followed with a single to right before LaMonte Wade walked to load the bases. Jonathan Rodriguez then lifted a sacrifice fly to center.
Despite the loss, Chattanooga retained a one-game division lead as second-place Jackson lost to Jacksonville. The Lookouts have a day off today before beginning a six-game series at Mississippi on Wednesday. They'll be back home on July 4 to play the Tennessee Smokies.
Pensacola tied the game in the fifth - with a Josh VanMeter triple and an RBI single from Aristides Aquino - and grabbed the lead in the sixth. With two outs, Nick Senzel doubled, Gavin LaValley walked and VanMeter went nine pitches in his at-bat before doubling to center on the 10th offering to score Senzel and LaValley.
Both runs were charged to Chattanooga starter Randy LeBlanc (2-3).
LaValley broke the game wide open in the eighth with a three-run homer, only his second round-tripper of the year.
VanMeter was 3-for-4. Gordon was the only Lookout with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 to raise his season average to .312.