PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Rottino, Ungs Lead Sounds To First Win

Published on April 6, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


METAIRIE, La. - Catcher Vinny Rottino homered and drove in three runs and starting pitcher Nic Ungs combined with three relievers on a three-hit shutout in the Nashville Sounds' 4-0 win over New Orleans on Sunday afternoon at Zephyr Field in the finale of a four-game series.

With the triumph, Nashville (1-3) recorded its first victory of the 2008 season and avoided a season-opening series sweep at the hands of the Zephyrs.

Ungs (1-0) continued his recent success against New Orleans, picking up the win after working five scoreless frames and allowing three hits while striking out four batters. Dating back to the 2007 season, the right-hander has hurled 16 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings against the Z's.

Steve Bray (1.0 IP), Tim Dillard (2.0 IP), and Melqui Torres (1.0 IP) completed the shutout with solid relief work behind Ungs.

Rottino gave the Sounds their first lead of the season when his fourth-inning solo home run to left off Zephyrs starter Jose Diaz put the visitors on top, 1-0.

The Nashville backstop doubled the lead in the sixth with a sacrifice fly that brought home Hernan Iribarren, who had opened the frame with a pinch-hit walk.

The Sounds increased the advantage to 4-0 with a two-run eighth against Z's reliever Robert Paulk. Russell Branyan opened the frame with a double, becoming the only Nashville player with a hit in each of the season's first four games. Mel Stocker followed with a bunt single before the two runners executed a double steal that increased the lead to 3-0 as Branyan scampered home. It was Nashville's first steal of home since August 2006 when Chris Barnwell performed the feat against Albuquerque.

Rottino drove in his third run of the contest later in the frame when he plated Stocker with a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to its final 4-0.

Diaz (0-1) took the loss for New Orleans after he allowed two runs on three hits while striking out five batters in his six innings of work.

Sounds second baseman Steve Sollmann recorded his first career Triple-A hit with a seventh-inning single, ending an 0-for-9 start to the season. Stocker singled an inning later to become the 12th and final Nashville position player to record a hit in 2008.

Outfielder Laynce Nix went 2-for-3 on the afternoon to record the Sounds' lone multiple-hit effort. Zephyrs first baseman Michel Abreu recorded two of New Orleans' three hits in the contest.

The Sounds continue their season-opening road trip on Monday in Oklahoma City, where they'll take on the Oklahoma RedHawks in the 7:05 p.m. opener of a four-game series. Left-hander Lindsay Gulin will make his first start of the year for Nashville. The RedHawks will counter with right-hander Luis Mendoza.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 6, 2008


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