Lookouts Lose to Trash Pandas, 9-7

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Chattanooga Lookouts fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, 9-7, on Wednesday night from AT&T Field.

Daniel Vellojin hit his first Double-A home run in the third and followed it up with his second in the fourth, finishing 2-for-4. Ivan Johnson paced the Lookout offense with a 2-for-4 contest with a home run and three RBIs.

Andrew Abbott got the start on the mound pitching 2.2 innings allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits, four walks and struck out five.

Spencer Stockton came in relief and worked 3.1 innings giving up just a hit and fanning eight batters. Michael Byrne (1-3) was tagged with the loss getting chased out after 0.2 innings giving up five hits and six runs. Chattanooga (39-53) combined for 16 strikeouts on the night.

Rocket City (53-39) jumped out to a, 3-0, lead after two-and-a-half innings but the Lookouts cut the lead to one after pushing two across in the third with a Vellojin homer and a TJ Hopkins double.

Chattanooga took the lead in the fourth with back-to-back shots.Johnson launched the first one to score Allan Cerda and Michael De Leon. Vellojin followed it up, launching one over the right field wall. Siani came around to score on a wild pitch in the sixth to extend their lead to, 7-3.

The Trash Pandas answered scoring six runs in the seventh behind three two-run home runs to take the, 9-7, lead that they never relinquished.

Ryan Aguilar led the guest offense with a 3-for-5 day with a home run and three RBIs. Nick Jones (1-0) picked up his first win of the season pitching 1.1 innings of relief not allowing a base runner and struck out a batter. Eric Torres was given his 11th save of the year pitching the final two innings and striking out five out of the six batters he faced.

The two teams will be back in action on Thursday for game three of the series. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.