
Francisco Mejía Hits Home Runs as Sounds Even Series in Memphis
May 31, 2024 - International League (IL)
Nashville Sounds News Release
Memphis, Tenn. - Three home runs and stellar pitching drove the Nashville Sounds (29-26) to a 7-2 victory against the Memphis Redbirds (29-26), on Friday night at AutoZone Park.
The Sounds opened the scoring in the second inning courtesy of a two-run blast from Chris Roller . Two batters later, Francisco Mejía hit his first home run of the season and the Sounds' pitching staff would take care of the rest.
Aaron Ashby (1-3) excelled in his 10 th outing for the Sounds this season. He went seven innings, allowing just two hits and zero earned runs with five strikeouts. He cruised through most of his outing, with a runner not reaching second base until the sixth inning. He earned his first win of the season, and it was his longest outing in nearly two years.
Mejía added an insurance run in the seventh inning with an opposite-field blast to give the Sounds a 4-0 lead. Entering today's game, Mejía had not hit a home run this season and his last came on September 16, 2023. The Sounds totaled 11 hits compared to just four for the Redbirds, which included the first multi-hit game from Joe Wiemer since returning to Nashville.
The game tightened up in the seventh inning with the Redbirds' first two hitters reaching base. Rob Zastryzny worked through the inning and maintained a 4-2 lead for Nashville.
Nashville answered in the ninth inning by scoring three runs with two outs. Tyler Black roped a two-RBI single to right field and Isaac Collins followed with an RBI single to left field to give the Sounds a 7-2 lead. James Meeker capped off the victory with a scoreless ninth inning to even the series heading into the weekend.
The Sounds and Redbirds play game five tomorrow night with the series knotted at two games apiece. Right-hander Tyler Woessner (1-3, 7.20) will get the ball for Nashville. He will go up against right-hander Gordon Graceffo (4-5, 4.58) for Memphis. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at AutoZone Park.
Post-Game Notes
Entering today, Francisco Mejía had the most at-bats on the team without a home run (132). He had a 38-game home run drought, and his last multi-homer game came on September 2, 2023, against Nashville while playing for Durham.
Aaron Ashby (7.0, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) had the longest outing by a Nashville pitcher this season. It was Ashby's longest outing since July 25, 2022, against Colorado (7 IP). It was his first win since July 8, 2022, against Pittsburgh.
Rob Zastryzny allowed an earned run in back-to-back appearances for the first time since August 1 & 4, 2023.
Tyler Black picked up two RBI in the ninth inning. In the series against Memphis, he is 5-for-17 with a home run and six RBI. His 30 RBI trail only Brewer Hicklen's 36 for the most on the team.
International League Stories from May 31, 2024
- RailRiders Downed Mud Hens, 1-0 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Durham Downs Jacksonville, 6-4 - Durham Bulls
- Home Run Sink Bats in 6-4 Loss - Louisville Bats
- Francisco Mejía Hits Home Runs as Sounds Even Series in Memphis - Nashville Sounds
- Knights Fall to WooSox 13-4 on Friday - Charlotte Knights
- Gorski Continues Hot Streak as Indians Drop Fourth Game of Homestand - Indianapolis Indians
- Omaha Wins Sixth Straight Series with 4-1 Victory over Indy - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Hot Bats Power Red Wings over Saints on Friday - Rochester Red Wings
- Syracuse Defeats Buffalo, 4-2, on Friday Evening at NBT Bank Stadium - Syracuse Mets
- Miscues Cost Jacksonville in 6-4 Loss to Durham - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Late Inning Offensive Explosion Powers WooSox to Third Straight - Worcester Red Sox
- Redbirds Close out May with Friday Night Loss to Sounds - Memphis Redbirds
- Home Runs Lift I-Cubs Over Louisville - Iowa Cubs
- Home Run Sink Bats in 6-4 Loss - Louisville Bats
- Weston Wilson Goes Yard as Clippers Slip by 'Pigs - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Mud Hens Secure 1-0 Win in Thrilling Showdown - Toledo Mud Hens
- May 31 Games Notes: Iowa Cubs at Louisville Bats - Iowa Cubs
- Bisons Payton Henry Alert, Responsive After Scary Incident - Buffalo Bisons
- Knights Announce Five Roster Moves Friday - Charlotte Knights
- Stripers See Six-Run Lead Slip Away in Norfolk - Gwinnett Stripers
- Saints Stuck in a Rut in Loss to Red Wings - St. Paul Saints
- Tides Complete Six-Run Comeback In Win - Norfolk Tides
- SWB Game Notes - May 31 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Clippers and IronPigs Split Doubleheader - Columbus Clippers
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - May 31 vs. St. Paul - Rochester Red Wings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Nashville Sounds Stories
- Sounds End Series with 10-4 Win, Take Five of Six Games against Stripers
- Nashville Sounds Set to Honor Five-Millionth Fan at First Horizon Park
- Sounds Take Doubleheader In Shutout Fashion Over Stripers
- Sounds, Stripers Postponed on Friday Night
- Tobias Myers Tosses Quality Start in Sounds Loss

