PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Big Inning Boosts Sounds In 8-5 Win

Published on June 21, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning helped the Nashville Sounds take down the division-rival Memphis Redbirds, 8-5, on Saturday night at Greer Stadium.

Both Chris Woodward and Adam Heether knocked two-run hits to cap a go-ahead rally for the Sounds in a back-and-forth battle with their in-state foes. Tony Gwynn went 2-for-5 and chipped in an RBI to pace the Sounds offensive attack, and starter Lindsay Gulin only gave up three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings to turn in another strong start for Nashville.

The Sounds scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning off Memphis starter Jaime Garcia when Vinny Rottino singled to start the inning and moved to third on a double to centerfield from Brendan Katin. Rottino then scored on a wild pitch from Garcia and Katin scored on a sacrifice fly from Heether.

The Redbirds responded quickly, though, with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning off Gulin to even the score. Garcia helped his own cause by leading the inning off with a double to left field, and Brian Barden followed with a walk. Garcia then came around to score on a single from Colby Rasmus, and Barden eventually scored on a fielder's choice from D'Angelo Jimenez.

Nashville countered with another run in the bottom half of the inning when Mel Stocker was hit by a pitch, then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Redbirds catcher Bryan Anderson. With that steal, Stocker now has 13 on the year and has only been caught once. He scored on the next pitch when Gwynn grounded out to first base.

Gwynn did his best Stocker impersonation in the bottom of the fifth when he singled then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error from Anderson. Just like Stocker in the third inning, he then scored on a fielder's choice groundball from Callix Crabbe to increase the lead to 4-2.

Memphis notched another run in the top of the sixth inning after Jimenez led off with a single and later scored on a double from pinch-hitter David Freese. The RBI was Freese's 14th in the month of June and 23rd in his last 23 games.

The Redbirds evened things up in the top of the seventh inning when Joe Mather scored on a passed ball by Rottino, but Sounds reliever Tim Dillard was able to minimize the damage by getting out of a bases loaded jam with the help of a diving catch by Heether at third base.

Woodward then came up big in the bottom of the inning for the Sounds when he knocked a two-run single off Memphis reliever Jason Motte with the bases loaded to score Nelson and Rottino. Heether followed with a double off the top of the left field wall to score two more runs and give the Sounds a four-run lead.

Woodward and Heether continue to be the hottest hitters for Nashville, extending their individual season-best hitting streaks to six and seven games, respectively.

Memphis was able to manage one more run off Sounds reliever Ben Howard in the top of the ninth inning when Jarrett Hoffpauir scored on an RBI double from former Sounds catcher Mark Johnson, but Howard closed out the game after that.

Dillard (4-0) picked up the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings and giving up only one unearned run, and Erasmo Ramirez pitched in 2/3 innings of scoreless work.

Ron Flores (0-1) was tagged with the loss after Motte allowed his inherited runners to score in the Sounds big, four-run rally in the seventh inning. Garcia struggled again against Nashville, dropping his record to 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA (12er/15ip) in three starts against the Sounds.

The division rivals will continue their series on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Greer Stadium. Southpaw Steve Hammond (NR) will make his Triple-A debut for the Sounds against righty P.J. Walters (6-1, 5.36) for the Redbirds.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 21, 2008


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