Sacramento Blanks Sounds in Extras to Force Series Split
Published on August 8, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Designated hitter Daric Barton was hit in the knee by Donovan Hand with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Sacramento River Cats a 1-0 shutout victory over the Nashville Sounds in the finale of a four-game set on Wednesday afternoon at Raley Field.
Brandon Hicks hit a ground-rule double on the first pitch from Hand to begin the bottom of the 10th inning, which was lost in the sun by center fielder Logan Schafer. Hicks later moved to third on a couple of walks, and scored the winning run as Barton was struck by Hand's off-speed pitch. Hand and pitching coach Fred Dabney both argued that Barton leaned into the pitch after the game ended.
The defeat moved Nashville to 5-8 in extra-inning play this season and gave the club two series splits during their eight-game road trip through Fresno and Sacramento. The Sounds' series split with the River Cats was only the second in team history at Raley Field (also in 2008).
Nashville has been involved in four 1-0 contests this season, taking two from New Orleans and losing one to Iowa.
Sacramento third baseman Josh Donaldson provided three of the River Cats' four hits on the afternoon.
The Sounds were held to just three hits. Shortstop Jeff Bianchi singled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high eight games, while second baseman Eric Farris and first baseman Sean Halton also added base hits. Designated hitter Jordan Brown reached twice on a couple of walks.
Nashville threatened in the ninth, stranding the go-ahead run on third base against reliever Travis Banwart. Bianchi singled to begin the frame and advanced to third on a sacrifice and infield groundout, but was stranded as Taylor Green struck out to end the inning.
Sacramento rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but also came up empty. With the bases loaded and two outs, Amaury Rivas induced a Grant Green 5-4 groundout to end the inning and force the game to extras.
Nashville starting pitcher Hiram Burgos authored his best Triple-A start of the season, striking out five while tossing six innings of shutout ball. The 24-year-old walked one and allowed only two hits, a single and double to Donaldson.
Fautino De Los Santos struck out two of his former teammates in 1 1/3 shutout innings. Juan Perez followed with a scoreless inning while stranding his only inherited runner. Rivas escaped a ninth-inning jam to strand two inherited runners.
Hand (3-2) was given the loss with the run allowed in the tenth.
Sacramento starter Bruce Billings also pitched well in a no-decision, facing only two batters over the minimum during his outing. The right-hander allowing two hits with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. Banwart (8-3) allowed one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings in relief for the victory.
After a league-wide off day tomorrow, the Sounds return home to Music City on Friday to begin an eight-game homestand against the Salt Lake Bees (AAA-Angels) and Tacoma Rainiers (AAA-Mariners) of the Pacific Conference Northern Division. Right-hander Claudio Vargas (5-1, 3.86) takes the mound for Nashville in Friday's 7:05 p.m. CT homestand opener against Salt Lake southpaw Greg Smith (7-8, 4.15).
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 8, 2012
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- Memphis Redbirds Kick off Elvis Week 2012 this Friday - Memphis Redbirds
- Aces Accepting 2013 Season-Ticket Deposits Now - Reno Aces
- Summer Fun Continues at Greer During Eight-Game Homestand - Nashville Sounds
- Rainiers Blanked By New Orleans, 2-0 - Tacoma Rainiers
- Zephyrs Shutdown Rainiers - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Score Winning Run in the Ninth for 5-4 Win in Sacramento - Nashville Sounds
- River Cats Drop Game Three to Sounds, 5-4 - Sacramento River Cats
- Bees Swarm RedHawks, 10-3 - Oklahoma City Comets
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