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PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Five Home Runs Can't Lift Zephyrs to Win

June 25, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


The Nashville Sounds overcame five Zephyrs home runs by scoring five times in the eighth inning, rallying past New Orleans, 7-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Zephyr Field.

All five Zephyrs runs came courtesy of solo home runs, including two by Matt Downs, who has hit four homers in his last five games. Kyle Skipworth, Kyle Jensen and Bryan Petersen also homered for the Z's, who entered the day with only 43 home runs as a team all season, the lowest total in the Pacific Coast League.

The Zephyrs, who at 28-0 were the PCL's lone undefeated team when leading after six innings, carried a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning on Tuesday, only to see Nashville rally for five runs. Jonathan Albaladejo was called upon to protect the two-run lead, but surrendered four runs while recording only one out.

Hainley Statia led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Sean Halton. A walk to Hunter Morris loaded the bases, and Anderson De La Rosa drove in a run on a force out. Stephen Parker then laced a single to right to tie the score, and the Zephyrs turned to closer Chris Hatcher.

But Hatcher could not stem the momentum, allowing a single to Cole Garner to load the bases, and a double to Blake Davis to plate a pair of runs. A sacrifice fly by Josh Prince capped the inning.

Petersen homered off Nashville closer Rob Wooten to lead off the bottom of the frame, and put two runners on base with two outs before Skipworth grounded out to end the threat.

Wooten retired the side in order in the ninth to record his 16th save.

Nashville scored in each of the first two innings. Morris knocked in the first run on a double, and starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg's liner to center field in the second went under the glove of a diving Gorkys Hernandez for the second run.

The Zephyrs, who had not hit more than two home runs in a game all season, powered their way back from the early deficit. Downs hit his first home run of the game in the second inning, and Skipworth evened the score with a blast to right in the fifth.

Jensen, the Southern League's home run leader prior to his promotion to New Orleans yesterday, hit his first Triple-A home run in the sixth to give the Zephyrs a 3-2 lead, and Downs followed one batter later with his second of the day, marking the second two-homer game of his career. He also went deep twice as a member of the Houston Astros last July 18 in San Diego.

Zephyrs starter Matt Neil exited the game after six innings in line for the victory. He overcame early struggles to turn in a quality start by allowing two runs and six hits in six innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. Albaladejo (3-3), who had given up just two runs in his previous 23 2/3 innings pitched at Zephyr Field this season, was saddled with the loss.

Nashville's rally allowed Thornburg to avoid dropping to 0-10 for the year despite a 10-strikeout outing. Thornburg allowed four runs and six hits with three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Following an off day Wednesday, the Zephyrs travel to Round Rock to open a four-game set on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

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