PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Barnwell Single Gives Sounds 2-1 Win In 10th

April 22, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE - Chris Barnwell delivered a two-out RBI flare single to right in the bottom of the tenth inning to plate Ozzie Chavez and give the Nashville Sounds a dramatic 2-1 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium.

The win, the fifth in a row for Nashville (11-6), gives the Sounds 10 victories in the club's last 12 contests and extends the team's lead to two games over the I-Cubs in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

It was the Sounds' second last at-bat victory and the club's first extra-inning game of the season. The five-game winning streak matches the longest of the year for Nashville.

Both teams struggled in scoring opportunities all afternoon, combining to go just 1-for-18 with men in scoring position; the lone hit was Barnwell's game-winner. Nashville and Iowa combined to hit into five inning-ending double plays, all of which came with a runner on second or third.

Nashville third baseman Ryan Braun broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when he crushed a 1-0 pitch from Iowa starter Ryan O'Malley over the left field wall for a solo homer, his team-leading sixth roundtripper of the season. Braun, who has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, has ripped 13 of his 18 hits on the year for extra bases.

Iowa shortstop Mike Fontenot tied the game at 1-1 with a two-out home run to right off Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was the infielder's second longball of the season and resulted in Stetter's second blown save in two chances.

Tim Dillard turned in an outstanding outing for the Sounds, allowing only two hits over seven scoreless frames, but was denied his first win of the year due to the blown save. The right-hander walked two batters and struck out three in his 94-pitch outing.

Reliever Dennis Sarfate (1-0) was awarded the victory for Nashville following Barnwell's heroics. The right-hander worked two scoreless frames but needed inning-ending double plays to escape both frames unscathed.

Cubs reliever Ben Howard (0-1) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run in his two-thirds of an inning of work.

Vinny Rottino (2-for-4) and Chavez (2-for-3) each recorded a multiple-hit effort for the Sounds for the second straight game. Jose Macias went 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to five games, his longest effort of the year.

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Monday evening. Right-hander Chris Oxspring (1-1, 2.35) will make the start for the Sounds and face veteran Iowa left-hander Les Walrond (2-0, 1.06).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 22, 2007


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