The Chattanooga Lookouts’ seven-game winning streak was snapped in extra innings Tuesday night as visiting Pensacola won 10-8 on a 10th-inning two-run home run by Taylor Sparks.
The Lookouts (13-19 in the second half) out-hit the Blue Wahoos (22-9) 17-to-14 but were just 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position. Chattanooga jumped on top with four runs in the bottom of the first, including hot-hitting Brent Rooker’s 19th home run.
However, Pensacola scored six runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take the lead against Lookouts’ starter Omar Bencomo, who lasted five innings and gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs.
The Lookouts thrilled the home crowd with four runs in the seventh to tie the game. Ryan Walker and Jordan Gore had run-scoring singles before Rooker tied it with a two-run double. It was part of a four-hit night by Rooker, who drove in four runs.
The Lookouts had a chance for a second consecutive walk-off win in the ninth when Zander Wiel walked with one out and Rooker singled with two outs. Chris Paul, though, grounded into a forceout at second to end the threat.
The Blue Wahoos, with the tiebreak rule in play (a runner began the inning on second base) against reliever Williams Ramirez in the 10th broke through when Sparks launched his 10th homer of the season with two outs.
Chattanooga, with Paul beginning the inning at second, had a promising start to the bottom half when Brian Navarreto singled, but Pensacola reliever Alex Powers struck out Jaylin Davis and Walker before retiring Gore to end the game and record his 11th save.
Davis had three hits, with Wiel, Paul and Walker adding two hits each for the Lookouts.
The teams will conclude the series this morning at 11:15.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22