Escobar's Five-Hit Effort Leads Sounds To 8-5 Win
Published on July 26, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shortstop Alcides Escobar went 5-for-5, scored twice, and drove in the eventual game-winning run to lead the Nashville Sounds to an 8-5 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Saturday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
With the win, the first-place Sounds (55-45) ended the RedHawks' five-game winning streak.
Escobar's five-hit game was the first by a Sound since the 2005 season, when Prince Fielder had five hits at Colorado Springs on August 6.
Hernan Iribarren and Jason Bourgeois also had multi-hit games for Nashville, which went seven-for-seven in stolen base chances Saturday night to tie the franchise single-game record for most swipes in a contest (previously accomplished on June 22, 1990 vs. Denver).
In the first, Nashville took a 1-0 lead on Josh Rupe. The right-hander surrendered back-to-back base hits to start the game, and the Sounds executed a double steal with runners at first and third. As RedHawks catcher Kevin Richardson threw to second in attempt to get Escobar, Jason Bourgeois stole home for the early advantage.
Oklahoma City tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Chris Davis in the bottom of the first inning and built a 4-1 lead after two. In the second, Just Smoak walked and scored on a three-base hit by Greg Golson, who would later score on a fielder's choice. Jose Vallejo scored the fourth tally on a sacrifice fly by Joaquin Arias.
Nashville scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tie the game at five. In the seventh, Escobar led off with his fourth hit of the game and came around to score, giving the Sounds their first lead of the night at 5-4.
The RedHawks rallied to tie the game at five in the home half of the seventh on an Esteban German sacrifice fly.
The Sounds would quickly regain the lead in the eighth off of reliever Neftali Feliz. After Feliz struck out Angel Salome and Freddy Parejo, Bourgeois walked and scored on a triple by Escobar to give Nashville a 6-5 lead. In the ninth, the visitors added two runs against Mike Hinckley to cap the scoring.
Feliz (4-6) took the loss, while R.J. Swindle (3-1) earned the win despite being charged with his fourth blown save of the season, the third against the RedHawks in his last three outings in Oklahoma City. Ryan Houston pitched a perfect ninth for Nashville to pick up his sixth save.
The RedHawks and Sounds play the third game of the series on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 26, 2009
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- Salt Lake Collects 28 Hits While Holding Beavers to Just 12 - Portland Beavers
- RedHawks Blast Sounds, 11-1 - Nashville Sounds
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- Francis Cabrera joins Bees - Salt Lake Bees
- Sox Fall Short in Extra Innings to River Cats - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Escobar's Five-Hit Effort Leads Sounds To 8-5 Win - Nashville Sounds
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