Sounds Win Streak Ends At Four With 6-5 Loss
Published on April 23, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Nashville Sounds had their four-game winning streak come to a close with a 6-5 loss to the Oklahoma RedHawks on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 and belted a pair of home runs to pace the Nashville offense in the losing effort. The outfielder scored three runs, picked up two RBIs, and now has a Pacific Coast League-leading 13 extra-base hits on the year.
The loss was the first in six contests against Oklahoma for Nashville (11-7), which fell to 1-4 in one-run games on the year but retained a one-game lead in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.
Oklahoma grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Jason Botts' two-out RBI single off Nashville starter Ben Hendrickson, which scored Jace Brewer.
The Sounds knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth when Brent Abernathy (2-for-3) plated Nelson Cruz with a two-out RBI knock of his own before the RedHawks reclaimed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame on a Brewer sacrifice fly.
Nashville jumped ahead by a 3-2 margin in the fifth. Tony Gwynn (2-for-5) extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI double, plating Chris Barnwell to tie the contest, then scored the go-ahead run later in the frame on a Corey Hart sacrifice fly.
Gwynn's 10-game streak matches Barnwell for the longest by a Sound in 2006. Barnwell went 0-for-3 with a walk in his four trips to the plate to stop his active streak at 10.
The RedHawks tied the score once again in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Jamie Burke, who led all Oklahoma batters with a 3-for-4 afternoon.
Nelson Cruz led off the sixth inning with his first homer of the contest, a solo shot to left-center off Oklahoma starter Edinson Volquez. The blast was his team-leading fifth of the year and gave Nashville a 4-3 advantage.
Oklahoma struck back against the Sounds' bullpen in the seventh. Wilton Chavez allowed four consecutive singles to open the inning, resulting in three runs and a 6-4 RedHawks lead. Joaquin Arias and Botts opened the frame with back-to-back knocks then both players scored when Laynce Nix followed with an RBI single to left that was coupled with a fielding error by Corey Hart, giving Oklahoma the lead. Burke recorded the final run-scoring single of the inning, plating Nix.
Nelson Cruz struck again for the Sounds in the eighth when he belted a leadoff solo homer to left off RedHawks reliever Erasmo Ramirez to pull the visitors within a run at 6-5. The outfielder's sixth homer of the campaign gave him Nashville's first multiple-homer effort of the year.
Ramirez (1-0) picked up the victory as the beneficiary of the Oklahoma comeback. Chavez (1-1) took the loss after suffering a blown save and giving up three runs in his two innings of work. Scott Feldman worked a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.
The blown save was the fifth of the season in nine save opportunities for Nashville.
Hendrickson, who departed with Nashville holding a 4-3 lead, drew a no-decision after allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out five batters in his six frames.
The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. meeting on Monday evening. Left-hander Dana Eveland (1-0, 1.06) mans the bump for the Sounds. Oklahoma will counter with southpaw Derek Lee (0-0, 0.93).
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 23, 2006
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- Young, Leone lead Beavers to victory - Portland Beavers
- Solid bullpen work gives Tucson third straight victory, 4-3 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Express tie franchise record in blasting I-Cubs - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks hang on in wild matinee - Oklahoma City Comets
- Shanks sends 'Topes to sixth straight win, 5-4 over Z's - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Zephyrs tipped by 'Topes, 5-4 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Manny Alexander transferred to Portland, Ricky Gutierrez released - Portland Beavers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sounds Win Streak Ends At Four With 6-5 Loss - Nashville Sounds
- Beavers miss chances in 4-2 loss to Bees - Portland Beavers
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