CHATTANOOGA, TN — Arjun Nimmala delivered the first multi-homer game of his professional career, including a go-ahead two-run blast in the ninth inning, as the Rocket City Trash Pandas (35-31, 70-64) rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Chattanooga Lookouts (21-45, 58-77), 7-5, Thursday night at Erlanger Park. The victory was Rocket City's third straight to open the series, fourth consecutive overall and 70th of the season.
With the win and Birmingham's loss to Knoxville, the Trash Pandas reduced their playoff magic number to one with three games remaining in the regular season. One more Rocket City victory or Birmingham loss will clinch a postseason berth.
Nimmala and Jacob Cozart combined for three home runs and six RBI, while Carlos Espinosa, Camden Minacci and Kenyon Yovan (W, 6-2) held Chattanooga to one hit over six scoreless innings in relief of starter Nate Snead. The Trash Pandas have piled up 36 runs, 41 hits and 10 home runs through the first three games of the series, increasing their Minor League-leading September home run total to 20.
Chattanooga struck first when Carlos Sanchez opened the bottom of the first with a double and scored on Peyton Stovall's single. Michael Trautwein added a solo homer in the third to make it 2-0.
Nimmala put Rocket City on the board with a leadoff home run to left in the fourth against Johnathan Harmon. The Lookouts answered with three runs in the bottom half, however, as Ruben Ibarra doubled, Cam Collier was hit by a pitch and Yerlin Confidan launched a three-run homer to center for a 5-1 advantage.
Espinosa took over with nobody out in the fourth and kept the deficit from growing. After allowing a double to Austin Hendrick, the right-hander struck out Trautwein and Sanchez, walked Stovall and fanned Carter Graham to strand two runners. He retired the final six batters he faced, finishing with five strikeouts over three scoreless innings.
Rocket City began chipping away in the fifth. Eddie Micheletti Jr. doubled with two outs and scored on Cole Fontenelle's single to right. Nick Rodríguez led off the sixth with his league-leading 30th double of the season and came home on Cozart's single, trimming Chattanooga's lead to 5-3.
Minacci followed Espinosa with a scoreless seventh, stranding Graham at third to keep Rocket City within striking distance.
The Trash Pandas pulled even in the eighth against Cody Adcock (L, 5-3). Jake Munroe reached on an infield single with one out, and Cozart followed with a two-run homer to right-center, his seventh with Rocket City, tying the game at 5-5.
After Yovan retired the Lookouts in order in the bottom half, Rocket City manufactured another opportunity in the ninth. Fontenelle reached on a wild pitch after striking out, then stole second and third. With two outs, Nimmala drove Adcock's offering over the wall in right-center for his second homer of the night and a 7-5 lead.
The 20-year-old Angels prospect now has six home runs over his last nine games and seven since joining the Trash Pandas. His two-hit, three-RBI performance also extended his on-base streak to 17 games.
Yovan worked around two one-out walks in the ninth to finish the comeback. With the tying runs at second and third, he struck out Graham swinging to end the game and earn his sixth victory. Yovan tossed two hitless innings with two strikeouts, completing a bullpen effort that featured eight strikeouts across six shutout frames.
Snead allowed five runs on six hits over 3.0 innings, facing three batters in the fourth. Adcock took the loss after surrendering four runs on the late homers by Cozart and Nimmala.
Nimmala, Cozart and Jake Thompson each collected two of Rocket City's 11 hits. Cozart matched Nimmala with three RBI, while Fontenelle added an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Rocket City continues its final regular-season series Friday at Erlanger Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm CT, with Rocket City sending RHP Kyle Robinson (0-2, 8.27) against RHP Ryan Garcia (0-4, 6.47) for the Lookouts. Fans can stream the game on Bally Sports Live, MiLB, or MiLB.TV. You can listen on ESPN 97.7 The Zone and Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 FM HD-2.