Packed House Watches Sounds Edge Redbirds
Published on June 13, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Pinch-hitter Erick Almonte delivered a bases-loaded RBI infield single with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Nashville Sounds an exciting 4-3 victory over the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds in front of a season-high 8,176 fans on Saturday night at historic Greer Stadium.
The first-place Sounds (37-26) extended their longest winning streak of the year to six games with the triumph, their fourth last at-bat win of the year.
The contest was the fourth extra-inning affair for the Sounds (3-1) and the seventh of the year for the Redbirds (5-2).
Hernan Iribarren, who extended his longest hit streak of the year to 11 games with a 1-for-3 evening, opened the Nashville tenth by drawing a walk from Memphis reliever Josh Kinney.
Joe Koshansky followed with a single to right that put runners on the corners and Adam Heether was hit by a one-out pitch to load the bases for Almonte, who improved to 8-for-18 (.444) as a pinch-hitter with his game-winning knock.
Sounds reliever Ryan Houston (3-1) picked up the victory after working a pair of scoreless frames, while Kinney (1-1) was dealt the loss after allowing the game-winning run in his 1 1/3 innings.
Sounds right fielder Brendan Katin got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when he slugged his team-leading 14th homer of the year, a leadoff solo shot to right off Redbirds starter Clayton Mortensen.
The visitors evened the contest at 1-1 in the top of the third with a longball of their own as Shane Robinson drilled a line drive solo shot to left off Tim Dillard to open the frame.
Nashville pulled back in front in the bottom of the inning when Iribarren delivered a one-out RBI single that brought in Alcides Escobar, who preceded him with a double to left.
The Sounds increased the lead to 3-1 in the fifth when Dillard drew an inning-opening walk and later scored on an Iribarren groundout.
Memphis rallied to tie the contest in the eighth as the Sounds' bullpen suffered a rare letdown. Robinson continued his big night for the Redbirds by roping a two-out, two-run single up the middle off David Johnson, who suffered his first blown save of the year.
Prior to that two-run outburst, Sounds relievers had given up only three earned runs in their previous 42 2/3 innings of work over a 17-game span.
Center fielder Jason Bourgeois went 3-for-5 in the contest, his fifth consecutive multi-hit effort, to extend his season-best hit streak to seven games for Nashville.
Dillard took a no-decision for the Sounds after he worked his fourth quality start of the year, allowing one run on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings of work. He left in line for his PCL-leading eighth victory of the year.
The Sounds look to complete the sweep when the teams wrap up the series with a 6 p.m. finale on Sunday evening. Right-hander Mike Burns (6-2, 2.98) will man the bump for Nashville in his first outing since returning from a week-long stint with Milwaukee. Memphis will counter with a yet-to-be-determined hurler.
The ZOOperstars, a traveling entertainment act, will rock the house throughout the game with routines that fans of all ages will love.
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