PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Cruz Crushes Grand Slam In Nashville's 8-0 Win

Published on May 31, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Shortstop Luis Cruz belted a grand slam as part of an eight-run eighth inning to propel the Nashville Sounds to an 8-0 win over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Memorial Day afternoon at historic Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game series.

Nashville (29-21) improves to a PCL-best 13-5 in division play after taking three of four from the Cubs for the series win, the team's only winning series in May.

Sounds starting pitcher Chase Wright also had a great day from the mound in his fourth quality start. The left-hander surrendered a season-best three hits with no walks over seven shutout innings while fanning a Sounds' career-high six batters in a no-decision. After hitting the first batter of the game, Wright retired the next ten consecutive hitters and 21 of his next 23 before departing after the seventh.

Mitch Stetter (1-0) earned the win, fanning one batter over one shutout frame. In his Sounds season-debut, Jeff Bennett pitched a perfect ninth inning, as the Cubs were held to just three hits between the three pitchers on the afternoon.

The Sounds batted around for the fourth time on the year and scored all eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the most runs plated in an inning this season.

Pinch hitter Erick Almonte led off the frame with a single to left field off reliever Scott Maine to start the rally. The next batter Josh Anderson reached base on an infield throwing error, followed by a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Ray Olmedo. After Chuck Caufield came into the game to pinch-run for Almonte, Maine intentionally walked Adam Heether to pitch to Joe Koshansky and load the bases. Maine walked Koshansky on four pitches to plate Caufield for the first run, then walked Trent Oeltjen on four straight for the second run.

Right-hander Blake Parker came into the game to relieve Maine and gave up an RBI-single to Norris Hopper for the third run. Cruz then came to the dish and crushed Parker's first pitch down the left field line and over the wall for a grand slam, his fourth long ball and 28th RBI of the season. The grand slam was Nashville's second of the season after Olmedo recorded a grand slam last week in Sacramento.

Later in the eighth, Caufield walked in his at-bat and then scored for an 8-0 lead on an Anderson RBI-double. Caufield scored two runs in the inning without being credited with an at-bat.

Maine (0-1) picked up the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) with three walks in 1/3 of an inning.

Cubs starter Mitch Atkins took a no-decision in a quality start, allowing just three hits with two walks and a season-high eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings.

The Sounds welcome the Albuquerque Isotopes to Music City for a 7:05 pm CT opener on Monday evening at historic Greer Stadium. Right-hander Kameron Loe (4-3, 3.16) will start for the Sounds against Isotopes right-hander Seth Etherton (1-0, 4.24).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 31, 2010


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