Offense Stays Hot As Sounds Topple Royals
Published on April 26, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
OMAHA - The Nashville offense continued its recent success on Saturday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium, producing a season high-tying 13 runs in a 13-9 victory over the division-rival Omaha Royals.
Designated hitter Brad Nelson (3-for-4, three RBIs) and first baseman Russell Branyan (4-for-4, five RBIs) continued their sizzling start to the seasons, combining to drive in and score 12 of Nashville's 13 runs on the evening. Catcher Vinny Rottino homered and drove in three runs to aid the cause.
Sounds hitters belted three home runs on the evening, the club's third straight contest with at least three longballs and its tenth in a row with at least one big fly (20 home runs over that stretch).
Nashville (5-16) continued its recent trend of quick starts, plating three runs in the top of the first inning for the fourth straight contest on its current road trip.
Nelson plated the game's first run with a two-out RBI infield single before Rottino smacked his fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left off Omaha starter Matt Wright. All three runs came in unearned due to a fielding error by Royals left fielder Chris Lubanski.
Omaha got a run back in the bottom of the first on a two-out Shane Costa homer off Zach Jackson and pulled within a run at 3-2 with a second-inning sacrifice fly before grabbing a 5-3 advantage with a three-run third against the southpaw. Mike Aviles, Ryan Shealy, and Matt Tupman all touched Jackson for solo longballs in the frame.
The Sounds rallied to reclaim the lead in the following half-inning with a four-run outburst that chased Wright from the ballgame. After Rottino opened the frame with a walk, Branyan and Brendan Katin connected on back-to-back home runs, their fourth and third roundtrippers of the year respectively. Nashville added its fourth run of the inning when Abraham Nunez scored on a double-play grounder.
The Royals responded with another rally against Jackson, chasing the left-hander with three runs in the home half of the fourth to grab an 8-7 lead. The outburst was highlighted by a two-run Mitch Maier homer.
Nashville evened things at 8-8 in the fifth when Nelson singled, stole second, and score on a Branyan RBI double, the veteran's team-leading ninth two-bagger of the year.
The Sounds retook an 11-8 lead in the sixth against the Omaha bullpen. With one out, Hernan Iribarren doubled the Mike Cameron and Joe Dillon drew walks from Brad Salmon, who was replaced by Jeff Fulchino. Nelson greeted the right-hander with a two-run, go-ahead single to right and Branyan added a two-out RBI single later in the stanza.
Omaha pulled within two at 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh with an unearned run stemming from a Nunez fielding error.
Nashville tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth as a pair of walks again came back to haunt Royals relievers. With one out, Dillon and Nelson drew free passes from Fulchino. Rottino and Branyan followed with consecutive RBI singles that stretched the Nashville lead to 13-9.
Veteran left-hander Erasmo Ramirez (1-0) earned the victory after he cooled off the Royals' offense upon taking over for Jackson. He worked an efficient 2 2/3 innings, during which he allowed only one hit and threw 38 pitches.
Salmon (2-1) took the loss for Omaha after giving up four runs on three hits in his 1 1/3 innings of relief work.
Neither starter was especially effective in the contest but both took no-decisions. Jackson allowed eight runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings and saw his season ERA increase to 8.89 through five starts. Wright allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits over his four frames of action.
Nashville will look to score its first series victory of the year when the wrap up the weather-shortened three-game series with a 1:35 p.m. finale on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Chris Narveson (1-3, 4.29) will make the start for the Sounds to face Omaha southpaw Jorge De La Rosa (2-0, 1.15).
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2008
- 51s bang out 21 hits; Beavers suffer sixth straight loss - Portland Beavers
- Sky Sox get thumped by Sacramento, 16-8 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Offense Stays Hot As Sounds Topple Royals - Nashville Sounds
- Iowa defeats Memphis - Iowa Cubs
- Zephyrs/Express game postponed - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Angels Announce More Roster Moves For Bees - Salt Lake Bees
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- 51s Overtake Portland With Big Inning, Hang On For 12-11 Win - Portland Beavers
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