CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Suns couldn't hold onto a 3-2 lead in extra innings, and Chattanooga left fielder Nick Buss hit a walk-off three run home run off of Suns closer A.J. Ramos in the 11th inning, to lift the Lookouts to a 6-3 win on Friday night at AT&T Field. The Suns have lost six straight games for the second time this season.
Jacksonville dented the scoreboard first against Lookouts starter Zack Lee. Kyle Jensen belted a solo home run in the top of the second inning to put the Suns in front 1-0. Jensen leads the Suns, and is tied for third in the Southern League with 18 round trippers this season.
The Lookouts responded to tie the game 1-1 in the home half of the second against Suns lefty Brian Flynn. Luis Nunez led off the inning with a single, and scored when Brahiam Maldonado doubled to the gap in left-center field.
In the fourth inning the Lookouts put together a two-out rally against Flynn. After J.T. Wise and Blake Smith struck out, Chattanooga collected three straight singles, with C.J Retherford driving in Nunez to give the Lookouts their first lead of the night at 2-1.
After loading the bases in the eighth inning, the Suns tied the score 2-2 when Ben Lasater scored from third on a pass ball charged to catcher Griff Erickson.
The teams traded runs in the tenth inning. Donnie Webb's infield single dove in Danny Pertusati from third in the top of the inning to give the Suns a 3-2 edge. With two outs in the bottom of the tenth, J.T. Wise doubled and then scored the game tying run when Blake Smith doubled to the right field corner.
In the bottom of the eleventh inning, after singles by Aaron Miller and Griff Erickson, Nick Buss smashed his sixth home run of the season to hand the Lookouts a walk-off 6-3 win. Chattanooga has won the first four games of the series by a combined score 25-11.
The Suns will try to salvage the series finale on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 7:15 PM from AT&T Field in Chattanooga. LHP Jose Alvarez (5-7, 4.10) will start his 22nd game of the season for Jacksonville. RHP Andres Santiago (0-0, 3.60) is set to start his first game of the season for Chattanooga.
