Mahomes Dazzles, Sounds End On Winning Note
September 6, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
MEMPHIS â Pat Mahomes delivered a masterful performance on Monday afternoon at Auto Zone Park, retiring 23 of the 24 batters he faced, in leading the Nashville Sounds to a 5-0 victory over the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds in the 2004 season finale.
Mahomes, making a spot start, retired the first 22 Memphis batters in order before Redbirds first baseman Gary Burnham laced a one-out single to center in the bottom of the eighth inning to break up the perfect game, resulting in an impromptu standing ovation from the crowd of approximately 8,000 fans on hand for the contest.
Chris Fussell came on to record the final four outs and lock down the two-hit shutout, Nashville's seventh goose egg of the season. The appearance was Fussell's team-leading and career-best 51st of the season for the Sounds.
With the victory, Nashville (63-79) gained a split of the four-game set but finished the campaign tied for the worst record in Sounds history, matching the 2000 club's mark.
The Sounds wasted no time ensuring that they ended the season on a good note, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning against Memphis starter Alan Benes.
Nashville rightfielder Eddie Olszta opened the game by lacing his second career Triple-A hit, a single, into left field, moved to second on a groundout, was singled to third by Freddy Sanchez, and came home with the game's first run on Carlos Rivera's RBI single to left. Sanchez scored the second run of the inning when he reached home on an unsuccessful double-steal attempt, crossing the plate before Rivera was tagged out at second on the play for the final out of the inning.
Rivera turned in a 3-for-3 effort on the season's final day and continued his strong close to the campaign; the first baseman batted .342 (40-for-117) over his final 35 games.
Catcher J.R. House extended the lead to 3-0 with a one-out solo blast in the top of the second off Benes, his 15th roundtripper of the year.
Sounds third sacker Luis Figueroa crushed his third home run of the series, and second in as many nights, to lead off the fourth inning against Benes and give Nashville a 4-0 lead. It was the infielder's sixth home run of the year; four of those longballs came against Memphis pitching.
Thompson continued the Sounds' home run parade against Benes when he led off the seventh frame with a solo shot to right on a 2-1 pitch, his fifth tater of the year, to increase the Nashville advantage to 5-0. The speedster had belted only four longballs in 1,716 career at-bats entering the 2004 season.
Olszta, batting from the leadoff spot, reached base in three of his five plate appearances on a hit and a pair of walk but was also caught stealing in his lone attempt with Nashville this season.
Mahomes (6-12) retired John Gall on a flyout for the second out of the eighth before being lifted by Trent Jewett, eliciting a second ovation from the Memphis crowd. The veteran right-hander allowed only one hit and struck out six batters over 7 2/3 innings to pick up his first victory as a starter since April 23, 2002, when he defeated Sacramento while pitching for Iowa. Mahomes threw 89 pitches, 64 for strikes, in Monday's outing.
Benes (8-10) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on 11 hits over eight innings of work for the Redbirds.
Baseball returns to Greer Stadium in April 2005 when the Sounds open their 28th season of competition. Season tickets are available now by calling 615-242-4371 or visiting the Greer Stadium box office.
NOTES: The Pittsburgh Pirates announced after the game that five players â catcher J.R. House, infielder Freddy Sanchez, outfielders Tony Alvarez and J.J. Davis, and reliever Mark Corey â will be called up tomorrow to join the Bucs for the remainder of the 2004 season ... With the win, the Sounds improved to 23-16 all-time at Auto Zone Park ... Pat Mahomes picked up the first stolen base of the year by a Sounds pitcher when he swiped second in the second after reaching on a fielder's choice. It was the first steal attempt in the hurler's 17-year professional career ... Eddie Olszta, re-added to the roster from Bradenton prior to the game, made his first start (third appearance) in the outfield ... Pitching coach Darold Knowles took a turn in the third base coaching box during Nashville's scoreless sixth inning ... Infielder Chris Truby â who sat out Monday's finale and served as the Sounds' first-base coach in place of hitting coach Jeff Livesey â finished the season with a team-leading .300 average, his best full-season mark since batting .302 in 1998 while in the Houston Astros farm system.
Pacific Coast League Stories from September 6, 2004
- Beavers drop season finale, stage set for playoff showdown - Portland Beavers
- Sacramento River Cats Pitch in with Corporate Sponsors to Help Raise Money for Charities and Schools - Sacramento River Cats
- River Cats to Begin playoffs at Raley Field on Wednesday - Sacramento River Cats
- 'Topes finish 2004 with two-straight wins - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Tacoma shuts out Tucson in finale - Tucson Sidewinders
- RedHawks drop regular season finale - Oklahoma City Comets
- Nashville Blanks 'Birds in Season Finale - Memphis Redbirds
- Five Players, Two Coaches Receive End Of Season Call-Ups To Pittsburgh - Nashville Sounds
- Mahomes Dazzles, Sounds End On Winning Note - Nashville Sounds
- Beavers conclude regular season Monday at PGE Park - Portland Beavers
- Isotopes announce player awards for 2004 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- 'Birds Outlast Sounds, 9-7 - Memphis Redbirds
- Sounds Fall To Redbirds, 9-7; 2004 Season Finale Monday - Nashville Sounds
- Isotopes beat RedHawks; playoff opponent set - Oklahoma City Comets
- 'Topes top Oklahoma 9-2 - Albuquerque Isotopes
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