CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Jacksonville Suns (29-38) mustered up a mini two-run rally in the ninth but fell short 3-2 to the Chattanooga Lookouts (41-25) Friday night from AT&T Field.
Alex Wimmers (W, 5-1) twirled a gem in his start for Chattanooga lasting seven scoreless frames allowing three hits while walking two and striking out a career-high 11 batters.
Suns starter Austin Brice (L, 2-6) worked four and two-thirds innings surrendering two runs (both earned) on four hits while walking five and striking out six. Madison Boer (S, 1) earned the save for the Lookouts in two innings of work relinquishing two runs (both earned) on three hits while not walking a batter and striking out one.
The scoring would begin in the bottom of the third for Chattanooga, after Niko Goodrum worked a lead off walk to then move down to second with a stolen base. Next batter Levi Michael then laced a RBI single to push his squad in front 1-0. After a Michael stolen base, Jorge Polanco ripped a run scoring single to double up the Lookouts advantage to 2-0 through three innings of play.
In the fifth, Chattanooga would load the bases after a pair of walks and a hit by pitch offered up by Suns starter Brice. Raudel Lazo now out of the bullpen for Jacksonville, would strike out Mike Gonzalez to strand the bases full of Lookouts.
Onto the seventh, and a walk to Austin Nola, and a single by Michael Morse put runners on the corners with one out for Jacksonville. Matt Juengel with a chance to cash in would ground into an inning ending double play to work Lookouts right-handed starter Wimmers out of the jam.
Flashing to the bottom of the seventh Max Kepler’s RBI triple, subsequent to a Miguel Sano double, moved the Lookouts in front 3-0 through seven innings of play. For Kepler it was his fifth triple against Jacksonville in this their eighth meeting of 2015.
In the ninth the Suns got a single from Chadd Krist then a RBI triple from Ryan Rieger to make it a 3-1 game. Next batter Austin Nola would arch a sacrifice fly to bring Jacksonville to within a 3-2 deficit.
Raudel Lazo generated two and one third frames out of the bullpen for the Suns surrendering a solo run (earned) on two hits while walking one and striking out two. Fabian Williamson entered in the eighth and hurled a scoreless frame for Jacksonville.
Major league rehabbing Michael Morse finished the ballgame 2-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout.
The Suns and Lookouts will square off once again Saturday night from AT&T Field with a first pitch slated for 7:15 p.m. ET. The Suns will send out righty Trevor Williams (3-7, 4.27 ERA) while the Lookouts will counter with right-hander Jose Berrios (7-3, 3.09 ERA).