Heether Slam Keys Big Night At Plate In 11-4 Win
Published on August 16, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds matched their season high with 20 hits, including an Adam Heether grand slam, in an 11-4 victory over the Round Rock Express on Saturday evening at The Dell Diamond in the opener of a four-game series.
The Sounds (53-75) - who previously rapped out 20 hits on August 4 at Fresno - recorded their fifth straight road victory. Every starting position player recorded a knock, led by three-hit efforts from Heether, Joe Dillon, and Chris Woodward.
The Nashville offense came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, plating five runs in each of the first two innings to send Round Rock starter Ron Chiavacci to the showers.
The Sounds opened the top of the first with four straight hits off Chiavacci, including a Joe Dillon RBI single followed by Brad Nelson's team-leading 34th double of the year that also plated a run. Jay Gibbons, Woodward, and Carlos Corporan also drove in runs for Nashville in the opening five-run frame.
A grand slam by Heether, the infielder's 11th roundtripper of the year and the Sounds' fourth slam of 2008, highlighted the five-run Nashville second.
Round Rock got a pair of runs back in the fourth against Sounds starter Nic Ungs on a pair of one-out RBI singles from Danny Klassen and Chris Johnson.
The Sounds increased their advantage to 11-2 in the fifth with an unearned run against former Nashville hurler Chad Paronto. Tony Gwynn reached on a fielding error by first baseman Mark Saccomanno and later scored on a Nelson RBI single.
The Express made it an 11-4 contest with a two-run rally against Sounds reliever Erasmo Ramirez in the bottom of the seventh. Center fielder Yordany Ramirez greeted the left-hander with a leadoff solo homer, his 10th of the year. Later in the frame, Ray Sadler delivered a two-out RBI single to score J.R. Towles from second.
Ungs (2-2) earned the victory after allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five batters over his five innings of work for Nashville. The right-hander improved to 5-1 over his last eight outings, split between the Sounds and Double-A Huntsville.
Chiavacci (5-5) absorbed the loss for the Express after surrendering 10 runs on 12 hits in only two innings of work.
The teams continue their series with a 6:05 p.m. CT meeting on Sunday evening. Left-hander Troy Cate (2-2, 4.86) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Round Rock southpaw Josh Muecke (7-11, 4.78).
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 16, 2008
- Sacramento wins 5th straight with 4-2 victory over Tacoma - Sacramento River Cats
- Three homers lift Portland in 5-1 win at Tucson - Portland Beavers
- Portland Homers Their Way Past Tucson 5-1 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Heether Slam Keys Big Night At Plate In 11-4 Win - Nashville Sounds
- Iowa defeats Zephyrs - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Padres recall Chad Reineke, option Cla Meredith to Portland - Portland Beavers
- House Headed to Houston - Round Rock Express
- Angels Recall Morales - Salt Lake Bees
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sidewinders Welcome Hawk Nelson On Faith Night - Tucson Sidewinders
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.
