Sounds Take Series Finale
May 11, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
OMAHA , Neb. - The Nashville Sounds won the final game of a five-game series, 5-3, on Monday afternoon at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. Outfielder Tony Gwynn led the way for the Sounds, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and his first home run of the season.
The Royals on the day stranded 14 men on-base and went a combined 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
The Sounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Gwynn homered to right field on the second pitch of the game from Bruce Chen. Gwynn's leadoff shot was his first home run in 167 at-bats, leading back to August of last year, and was the first game opening home run since Callix Crabbe on July 27, 2007 vs. Fresno.
Joe Koshanksy's sacrifice fly scored Alcides Escobar, giving the Sounds a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
Kila Ka'aihue knotted the score at 2-2 with his double in the bottom of the first inning that scored Irving Falu and Brayan Pena.
The Royals rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning to load the bases off starter Lindsay Gulin. Reliever David Johnson came in with no outs and allowed Brian Buchanan to single home Ka'aihie for a Royals 3-2 lead. Johnson was able to get out of the inning only surrendering one run and striking out two in the process. Nashville was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the next frame with Jason Bourgeois' two-out RBI single, scoring Erick Almonte.
Leading off the top of the seventh, Gwynn singled to centerfield, collecting his third hit of the afternoon. Gwynn then stole second base on the first pitch to Escobar. Newly activated Mike Rivera, on Major League rehab from Milwaukee with a sprained left ankle, knocked in Gwynn for a Sounds 4-3 lead. Koshanksy extended the lead to 5-3 with his two-out RBI single that scored Escobar. All of Koshanksy's 20 RBIs have come on the road this season.
The Royals loaded the bases again in the bottom of the eighth inning, but were unable to produce a run. R.J. Swindle relieved Johnson with the bases loaded, but got Ed Lucas and Falu to ground out, surrendering no runs.
Chris Smith came in the ninth and got the Royals out in order, picking up his seventh save of the season.
Johnson (1-0) earned his first win of the season, pitching 2.1 innings and striking out three. Greg Atencio received the loss for Omaha, allowing three runs over 1.1 innings.
The Sounds return to Nashville and open an eight-game homestand tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. at Greer Stadium by welcoming the Reno Aces (AAA-Diamondbacks) to town for the clubs' lone series of the year. Reno is a new PCL franchise in 2009, replacing the Tucson Sidewinders. Sounds starter Mike Burns (4.0, 2.63) takes the hill to face Reno's Billy Bucker (1-1, 5.29).
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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2009
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