PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Gallardo Tosses Another Gem In 5-2 Victory

May 6, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE - Yovani Gallardo turned in another gem for Nashville on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium, leading the Sounds to a 5-2 victory over the Round Rock Express in front of 7,096 fans.

Gallardo (4-1) allowed only one hit and fanned nine batters over seven scoreless innings to earn the victory in his fifth consecutive quality start. The right-hander did not allow a runner to advance past first base during his outing and took the overall minor league lead with 51 K's through his first six starts.

The victory, which ties Gallardo with Zach Jackson for the team lead, was the 21-year-old hurler's fourth in his last five starts; in his previous start on April 30 at Iowa, he left in line for a win before a blown save by the Sounds' bullpen resulted in a Nashville loss.

Gallardo lowered his ERA to 2.19 on the year and has held opponents to a .164 batting average this season.

The first-place Sounds (17-13) notched their fourth win in the last six games and their eighth victory in the club's last nine home contests.

Mike Rivera paced the Nashville offense on the afternoon with a 2-for-2 effort that included a home run, double, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

Rivera (2-for-2) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff solo home run off the guitar-shaped scoreboard in left-center. The blast, which came against Round Rock starter Jared Gothreaux, was his second of the season.

The Sounds extended the lead to 3-0 in the sixth against Gothreaux. With one out, Charles Thomas drew a walk and Vinny Rottino singled to chase the right-hander. Andy Abad greeted Express reliever Travis Phelps with a rocket RBI single off the glove of first baseman Mark Saccomanno to plate Thomas and extend his hitting streak to seven games. Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Rottino with Nashville's third run of the contest.

Round Rock plated its first run in the top of the eighth against the Nashville bullpen. Jose Capellan allowed consecutive singles to put runners on the corners before inducing a popout from pinch-hitter Barry Wesson. After Luis Villarreal took over on the hill, Eric Bruntlett scored from third on a Josh Anderson groundout to make it a 3-1 contest.

Nashville added a pair of gift insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 5-1 contest when Round Rock second baseman Brooks Conrad misfired to first while handling a two-out, bases-loaded grounder off the bat of Sounds pinch-hitter Jose Macias. Rottino and Rivera scored in unearned fashion on the play. Express reliever Scott Sauerbeck had walked the bases loaded.

The Express made it a 5-2 game in the ninth against Luther Hackman. Eric Munson led off the frame with a single and scored on a two-out RBI triple by Bruntlett.

Gothreaux (1-1) took his first loss of the year for Round Rock after allowing three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

The teams wrap up the four-game series with a 10:30 a.m. finale on Monday morning. Left-hander Zach Jackson (4-2, 4.32) will take the hill for the Sounds to face Round Rock right-hander Chad Reineke (2-2, 7.20).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 6, 2007


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