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Sounds Cling to Two-Run First, Down Sox

April 19, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - 5,787 fans were on hand to witness the rain play a role once again in Sunday's 2-1 Sounds win over the Sky Sox at First Tennessee Park.

After the Sky Sox were set down in order in the top of the first inning by Sounds spot-starter Fernando Rodriguez, Nashville's offense got going early in the home half, scoring two quick runs off of Sox right-hander Tyler Cravy.

Cravy (1-1, 3.60) would walk two in the first and allow those free passes to travel home on the strength of a two-out, two-run double by Sounds right fielder Kent Matthes. In all, Cravy would toss four innings, allowing just the two runs on four walks and two hits while striking out five before an hour long rain delay forced him out of the ballgame for the start of the fifth.

Cravy would get a run of support during his shortened time on the mound. With Rodriguez still on the mound for Nashville in the top of the third, Pete Orr would lay down a successful bunt single down the third base line. Orr would steal second before Rodriguez induced a lazy pop up by Matt Long to second baseman Joey Wendle. With one out in the inning, the Sounds would turn to the game's scheduled starter Chris Bassitt (1-0, 3.38) in hopes of working out of the jam. Bassitt would get Luis Sardinas to ground out to short before Elian Herrera came through with an RBI single up the middle to plate Orr and cut the deficit to one.

The skies opened after the fourth inning, delaying the game for an hour before play resumed in the top of the fifth. Bassitt remained in the game for Nashville and was able to work a 1-2-3 inning against the Sox offense after the delay. Saturday night's game was also slowed by rain as the game was pushed back for an hour and a half before first pitch could be thrown.

Having thrown 86 pitches (50 for strikes) and sitting for an extended period of time, manager Rick Sweet thought it would be best to give Cravy the rest of the night off before turning to lefty reliever Jed Bradley for the Sounds' fifth.

Bradley would not disappoint, turning in his most effective performance of 2015 with three innings of shutout baseball. The 2011 first rounder out of Huntsville, Alabama allowed two hits while walking two and striking out three, keeping Nashville off the scoreboard and Colorado Springs in the ballgame.

Unfortunately the Sounds bullpen turned in an equally strong performance. Bassitt would go 4.2 scoreless innings before turning the ball over to 1-2 punch of left-hander Eury De La Rosa in the eighth and former A's closer Ryan Cook in the ninth. The Sounds bullpen would combine to pitch 6.2 innings of shutout baseball while allowing just four base runners.

The Sky Sox would wind up out-hitting the Sounds 5-4, but the two-run first inning would ultimately be enough for Nashville on this day as they helped Bassitt earn his first career Triple-A win.

The Sky Sox bullpen has been stellar in this series, posting a miniscule 0.75 ERA (1 ER/12 IP) over the last three games while striking out 14 Sounds batters.

The Sky Sox will look to build on their recent string of strong pitching performances in the series finale against the Sounds on Monday. Left-hander Barry Zito is set to duel with Sox Ace Taylor Jungmann with first pitch slated for 6:05 PM MDT.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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