PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Memphis Visits Greer Stadium - May 19-22

Published on May 19, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


The Nashville Sounds return home to Greer Stadium this evening to begin an eight-game homestand with the 7 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds. The teams have met eight times already this season; the Sounds hold a 5-3 advantage in the season series.

Third baseman Mike Gulan (right) is batting .383 during the month of May and ranks 8th in the Pacific Coast League with his team-leading .345 batting average.

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Meet The Members Of The 2003 Nashville Sounds On Tuesday

Don't miss your chance to meet the 2003 Nashville Sounds at the First Pitch Luncheon on Tuesday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

The event, presented by the Nashville Sports Council as part of their Comcast Sports Speaker Series, will feature comments from manager Trent Jewett, a Q&A session with select Sounds players, and a meet & greet session with the entire Sounds team. Tickets for the luncheon ($25-30) can be reserved by calling 615-743-3127 or sending an e-mail to smiles@nashvillesports.com.

------------------------------ SERIES PREVIEW & TEAM NOTES MONDAY, MAY 19 - 7:00 PM
RHP Ryan Vogelsong (5-3, 5.66) vs. RHP Steve Stemle (1-5, 3.30)
Promotion(s): Applebee's Neighborhood Night, CPA Night (accounting professionals receive ticket, hot dog, and soft drink for $10), Piggly Wiggly Monday (buy one, get one tickets when presenting a Piggly Wiggly receipt at box office)

TUESDAY, MAY 20 - 7:00 PM
RHP John Wasdin (3-1, 3.83) vs. TBA
Promotion(s): Twizzlers Two-for-One Tuesday (buy one, get one free tickets by presenting a Twizzlers wrapper at the stadium box office)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 - 3:00 PM
RHP Josh Fogg (0-0, 9.00) vs. RHP Nerio Rodriguez (3-1, 2.39)
Promotion(s): Web Wednesday (buy one, get one free tickets - online purchase only)

THURSDAY, MAY 22 - 7:00 PM
RHP Nelson Figueroa (3-2, 3.55) vs. RHP Jason Ryan (3-1, 2.20)
Promotion(s): Thirsty Thursday ($1 draft beverages until end of 5th inning)
Harris Teeter VIC Card Thursday (buy one, get one tickets when presenting a Harris Teeter VIC Card at box office), Shedd's Spread Country Crock Pack The Park Day

Pitching matchups are tentative. Promotions subject to change. All times central.

All Sounds games are broadcast live on WANT 98.9-FM and WCOR 900-AM as well as via an online webcast available at the Sounds' website. Chuck Valenches, in his 6th season as the "voice of the Sounds," is on the call.

NEW FOR 2003! The Sounds have added play-by-play gamecasts to our website. You'll see the results of each play as they happen, along with a live-action box score. To view the gamecast on your computer, visit www.nashvillesounds.com and click on the "PLAY-BY-PLAY" link in the Next Game box on the left side of the screen.

Tickets are available by calling the Sounds box office at (615) 242-4371 or by ordering online.

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Big Band Concert Highlights 2nd Faith Night On Friday

Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, who formed at Belmont University, bring their big band sound to Greer Stadium this Friday evening during a pre-game concert that will highlight the Sounds' 2nd Faith Night.

Invite your youth group, singles group, Sunday school class, or any other church-related function for a great night of baseball, friends, & fellowship.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

SOUNDS FACE TENNESSEE RIVALS FOR THIRD TIME THIS SEASON: The Sounds return home to Greer Stadium today to open an eight-game homestand with the 7 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds (AAA-Cardinals). Nashville holds a 5-3 lead in the season series but dropped three of four in Memphis on the first leg of their current road trip. The Sounds swept a four-game series from the Redbirds in their first meeting at Greer Stadium this season from April 15-18.

THE SOUNDS ... hold a 23-18 record ... are 9-17 in their last 26 games since opening the season with a 14-1 mark ... place 2nd in the PCL East division, trailing New Orleans by one game ... have a .270 team batting average (8th in PCL) and 4.16 ERA (8th in PCL).

YESTERDAY'S GAME SUMMARY: The Sounds came up on the short end of a 6-3 decision in the finale of a four-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes on Sunday afternoon. The loss resulted in a 2-6 record on the current eight-game road trip for the Sounds, who also dropped their third consecutive series by a 3-1 count. J.J. Davis hit his second mammoth home run in two games for Nashville in the losing effort. His 7th-inning bomb to deep center -- his 5th of the year, tied for the team lead -- was measured at approximately 465 feet. He belted a 450-foot shot over the scoreboard in left-center on Saturday night. The Sounds (23-18) did not lose any ground in the divisional race, however, as front-runner New Orleans was also defeated earlier in the afternoon by Fresno. Albuquerque jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Sounds starter Matt Guerrier on an RBI double by Rob Stratton, who finished 3-for-4 on the afternoon. The Isotopes outfielder struck again in the 3rd, belting his league-leading 15th home run to double the advantage to 2-0. The Sounds got on the board in the fifth on a Humberto Cota RBI single before Albuquerque's Paul Hoover delivered a two-run double an inning later to increase the Isotopes lead to 4-1. Davis' seventh-inning solo blast cut the lead to two but Albuquerque took advantage of the Sounds bullpen yet again in the ninth, plating a pair of insurance runs against Shawn Camp on a two-out, two-run single by Wilson Valdez. Sounds outfielder John Barnes extended his hitting streak to nine games with a leadoff solo homer in the top of the ninth against Albuquerque reliever Vladimir Nunez to make it a 6-3 game, but Nunez recovered to fan Mike Gulan and Carlos Rivera before inducing Davis to line out to left to end the contest. Isotopes starter Nate Bump (2-5) picked up the victory after allowing one earned run over seven strong innings, while Guerrier (0-3) remains winless through five starts for Nashville. He took a tough-luck loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over five innings of work.

THE ZOOPERSTARS MAKE FIRST GREER APPEARANCE ON SATURDAY: The ZOOperstars, a collection of animalistic, unpredictable, inflatable superstars, make their first 2003 appearance at Greer Stadium on Saturday, May 24th with routines for all ages to enjoy! Shark McGwire, Mackerel Jordan, Harry Canary, and friends will entertain fans throughout the game. Whether they are dancing wildly on the field, creating havoc on top of the dugouts, or mingling in the crowd, these zany creatures will leave you in hysterics! Gates open at 4 p.m. for the Sounds' 6 p.m. contest against Omaha.

SOUNDS, CRICKET ENCOURAGE FANS TO "KICK THE HOME PHONE HABIT": As part of Cricket's new "Kick the Home Phone Habit" campaign, the Sounds will issue two (2) free tickets to all fans who turn in a non-cellular telephone at this Saturday's 6 p.m. game against the Omaha Royals.

SOUNDS TEAM WITH GOODWILL: All individuals who make a donation to one of the Nashville area Goodwill locations in the next few months will receive a voucher for a free ticket to the Sounds' 6 p.m. game against the Oklahoma RedHawks on Sunday, July 6th. Visit www.goodwillmidten.org to find the Goodwill Donation Center closest to you.

GAME NOTES NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE: We've recently added daily game notes to our website so that all fans can stay up to date on the latest news & notes about the Sounds on a daily basis. Click here or visit www.nashvillesounds.com and click on the "Game Notes" link in the "Next Game" box to view the current PDF version of the Nashville Sounds' game notes.

SOUNDS HOLD EQUIPMENT DRIVE TO SUPPORT LOCAL R.B.I. PROGRAM : In an effort to further promote the presence of baseball throughout Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Sounds will hold a baseball equipment drive at Greer Stadium and donate all collected items to the Middle Tennessee R.B.I. (Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities) program. All fans that drop off usable baseball equipment (bats, gloves, etc.) at Greer Stadium on or before May 23rd will receive four (4) free tickets to the Sounds' 7 p.m. game against Omaha on May 23. The equipment drive is co-sponsored by Taco Bell. Click here for more information.

ASK CHUCK: Have a question about the Sounds or the on-field action early in the season? "Ask Chuck." Fans are encouraged to submit questions to Chuck Valenches, "the voice of the Sounds," via e-mail at askchuck@nashvillesounds.com. He'll answer two questions during each home game broadcast. If your question is chosen, you'll win an exciting prize package courtesy of the Nashville Sounds.

FOGG MAKES REHAB STINT WITH SOUNDS: Right-hander Josh Fogg, who was placed on the Pittsburgh Pirates' 15-day disabled list on April 21 due to a strained left oblique muscle, has join the Sounds on a rehabilitation assignment. He made his first start for Nashville on Friday and received a no-decision after allowing four runs over five innings of work. He will make his Greer Stadium debut against Memphis on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Fogg, who led all National League rookies in starts and innings pitched last season after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in December 2001, posted a 1-2 record and 4.35 ERA (10er/20.2ip) in four starts for Pittsburgh to open the year.

REBOULET, MAHOMES SUMMONED BY PIRATES: Infielder Jeff Reboulet had his contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday after the Bucs placed second baseman Pokey Reese on the 60-day D.L. due to a ligament tear in his left thumb. The 39-year-old Reboulet, who hit .224 (11-for-49) in 17 games for the Sounds after signing on April 16, has appeared in 925 career major-league games in his 18-year career. One day later, the Pirates tapped the Sounds' pitching staff for help, purchasing the contract of right-handed reliever Pat Mahomes (4-1, 3.10 ERA in 14 relief outings for Nashville). The Pirates designated LHP Dennys Reyes for assignment to create the spot for Mahomes on their 25-man & 40-man rosters. The Sounds re-added infielder Tomas de la Rosa and left-handed pitcher Tom Fordham to their roster to fill the open spots.

MIGHTY MIKE: Third baseman Mike Gulan, who registered a team-high four hits as well as his team-leading 17th multi-hit game on Saturday night, is batting .383 (23-for-60) during the month of May despite having his season-best six-game hitting streak (13-for-25, .520) snapped yesterday. His overall .345 average ranks 8th in the PCL. He has logged multi-hit efforts in five of his last seven outings..

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: The Sounds are 15-for-27 (.556) with runners in scoring position over the past three games after hitting only .148 (12-for-81) in those situations over the previous 11 contests.

MOUND MUDDLES: Nashville's pitching staff -- which led the PCL with a 2.34 ERA on April 25 -- has surrendered a 6.35 ERA (116er/164.1ip) over the past 20 games to plummet to 8th in the circuit with a 4.18 mark.

RED HOT: Tike Redman, who leads the PCL with 18 stolen bases and is tied for 3rd in the circuit with 30 runs scored, has hit safely in six straight games (9-for-22, .409) and in 10 of his last 11 (15-for-38, .395). The speedy outfielder is 18-for-19 in steal attempts. With his 18 steals, Redman has tied Chad Hermansen for 2nd on the Nashville career list with 79 stolen bases in his four-year Sounds career

BARNES STORMING: Outfielder John Barnes has emerged from a mini-slump to post a nine-game hit streak (.406, 13-for-32). He had batted only .222 (10-for-45) over his previous 11 games. Barnes has hit safely in his last 12 road contests (.354, 17-for-48).

COTA CATCHING ON: Catcher Humberto Cota -- who has homered in three of his last five games and leads Nashville with five round-trippers on the year -- has come alive at the plate, batting .333 (17-for-51) over his last 15 games after opening the season with only nine hits in his first 47 at-bats (.191).

SOUND BYTES: The Sounds are batting .302 (76-for-252) over their last seven games and have posted a double-digit hit total in five of those outings ... Nashville hurlers lead the PCL with 325 strikeouts and have walked the fewest batters (112) ... Nashville batters have struck out only 237 times, the 2nd-lowest total in the PCL (Fresno, 219) ... The Sounds are 17-1 when they out-hit the opposition ... Sounds relievers have logged a 5.85 ERA (57er/87.2ip) over the last 25 games after posting a 0.70 ERA (4er/51.2ip) in the team's first 15 contests ... Nashville opponents are batting .303 (112-for-370) with runners in scoring position.

ON DECK: The Sounds continue their homestand by welcoming the Omaha Royals to Greer Stadium for a four-game series. It will be the clubs' second meeting of the season. The Royals took three of four from Nashville in the first series from April 19-22, also at Greer Stadium.

Check out the Nashville Sounds Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 19, 2003


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.

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