Sounds Win 8-7 In New Orleans With Go-Ahead Pinch-Hit Homer
April 21, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
METAIRIE, La. - With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Mike Rivera belted a go-ahead two-run homer over the left field wall to give the Nashville Sounds an 8-7 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Thursday night at Zephyr Field.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Nashville (7-8), and marked the first come-from-behind win this season. Nashville scored the first six runs of the game, but allowed seven unanswered by the Zephyrs before Rivera's late homer.
With two outs in the inning, New Orleans reliever Frank Mata (0-1) hit Martin Maldonado and then gave up Rivera's second home run of the season for the loss. The pinch-hit homer was the first hit by Nashville pinch-hitters this season, and marked the first pinch-hit long ball since Adam Stern's homer in second game of a doubleheader on July 9, 2010 at Memphis.
In his third rehab appearance for the Brewers, Manny Parra followed with a perfect eighth inning, allowing two groundouts while striking out one on 12 pitches (10 strikes). Justin James continued his dominance, earning his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
The Sounds scored their first two runs in the top of the second inning. Zephyrs pitcher Adalberto Mendez started the frame by walking both Brett Carroll and Taylor Green, with both runners advancing to scoring position on a Chris Nowak sacrifice bunt. Maldonado then laced a two-out double to left field that plated both runners.
The Sounds tacked on four more runs in the top of the third inning to extend their lead to 6-0. With the bases loaded and no outs, Mendez surrendered an RBI-base hit to Carroll and a sacrifice fly to Green for the first two runs. Nowak later singled in the next run, followed by Jeremy Reed collecting his first RBI for the Sounds with another sacrifice fly that plated Carroll.
The Zephyrs would score seven unanswered runs over the next five innings to take a 7-6 lead in the seventh inning.
New Orleans plated their first two runs in the third, as former Vanderbilt star Ryan Klosterman singled to start the rally and scored on a Bryan Petersen double to right field. Former Sound Vinny Rottino then brought home Petersen with a base hit to left field. New Orleans' next two runs came from Chris Aguila's third home run of the season, a two-run shot over the wall in left field that trimmed the lead to 6-4.
The Zephyrs plated three runs to take a quick 7-6 advantage in the bottom of the seventh inning as Sounds reliever Jim Henderson began the frame by walking the first two batters. The first run of the frame came off a Henderson throwing error during a New Orleans sacrifice bunt.
After Henderson was lifted from the ballgame for reliever Mark DiFelice (1-0), Aguila laced a two-run double to left field for the tying and go-ahead runs. DiFelice fanned Brad Davis to end the inning and back into the win.
Sounds starting pitcher Sam Narron earned a no-decision, allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings pitched. Mendez surrendered six runs on five hits in five innings for New Orleans.
The Sounds and Zephyrs will play the finale of a four-game set at 7:00 pm CT on Friday night at Zephyr Field in New Orleans. Right-hander Amaury Rivas (2-1, 2.08) takes the mound for the Sounds against New Orleans righty Elih Villanueva (1-1, 6.19).
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