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PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Rivera, Sounds Slam Isotopes In Series Opener

June 3, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Catcher Mike Rivera belted a grand slam to highlight the Nashville Sounds' 8-4 victory over the PCL-leading Albuquerque Isotopes in front of a packed house of 10,123 fans on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium.

Nashville (32-24) increased its winning streak to four games, one short of its longest this season, and has won five of its last six games overall to pull within a half-game of the Isotopes (33-24) for the best record in the Pacific Coast League.

Seven of the eight Sounds starting position players scored a run in the game and all but Dave Krynzel (0-for-3) recorded a hit.

The visitors grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third against Sounds starter Ben Hendrickson. With two down in the inning, Chris Aguila (3-for-4) ripped a two-run standup triple to right-center. Paul Hoover and Roberto Andino scored on the three-bagger. Former Sound Jason Wood followed with an RBI double just inside the third base bag to bring in Aguila.

Albuquerque starter Renyel Pinto was dealing early and allowed only one hit while striking out seven over the first three innings before being removed due to a pitch count. The southpaw threw 70 pitches, 40 for strikes, in the contest.

Nashville took quick advantage of Pinto's departure and grabbed a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a seven-run rally as the Sounds batted around against Isotopes reliever Jimmy Anderson. Shortstop Chris Barnwell put the Sounds on the board with an RBI single up the middle that plated Vinny Rottino. Zach Sorensen pulled the home team within a run later in the frame, making it a 3-2 contest with a sacrifice fly, before Nelson Cruz singled to center to plate Barnwell and knot the score.

Rivera put the Sounds up four when he belted a 3-2 Anderson offering over both walls in left-center for a grand slam, his eighth longball and Nashville's second bases-loaded tater of the season. Only one of the seven runs scored in the inning against Anderson was earned, however, as a result of the pitcher's own throwing error.

The Sounds increased the lead to 8-3 in the fifth against Anderson on Sorensen's one-out bases-loaded RBI single but missed a chance to do further damage as Cruz bounced into an inning-ending double play with the sacks full.

Albuquerque wrapped up the night's scoring with a two-out run off Sounds reliever Alec Zumwalt in the ninth. James Shanks' RBI single through the left side of the infield brought in Hoover to bring the score to its final 8-4.

Hendrickson (3-1) earned the victory while pitching on three days' rest for Nashville. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits while striking out six batters in five innings.

Anderson (2-3), who played in Nashville from 1998-2000, took the loss after surrendering eight runs (two earned) on eight hits in his three innings of work.

Chris Demaria tossed three scoreless frames behind Hendrickson and has allowed only one run in his 7.0 innings of work since rejoining the Sounds a week ago.

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Sunday evening at Greer. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (3-2, 3.13) will make the start for Nashville on three days' rest. The Isotopes will counter with right-hander Nic Ungs (6-4, 3.00).

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