PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Seven-run ninth propels Isotopes past Sounds

Published on June 5, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Albuquerque scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning against the Nashville bullpen to break a 1-1 tie and post an 8-1 victory over the Sounds on Monday evening at Greer Stadium.

The loss snapped a six-game skid for the Isotopes (34-25) and brought an end to a season-best five-game winning streak for Nashville (33-25).

The starting pitchers for both teams were able to quiet the bats for the majority of the contest. Both starters combine to allow two runs on just five hits between them.

The Sounds sent knuckleballer Jared Fernandez to the mound on only two days' rest. The lack of rest didn't seem to bother the right-hander as he threw seven innings and allowed one run on just three Isotope hits. Over the past four days, Fernandez threw 215 pitches and received two no-decisions.

The Isotopes starter, Jeff Fulchino, was equally impressive as he logged six innings of work and allowed one run on two hits.

Albuquerque took an early lead in the top of the second. With one out, catcher Tom Wilson doubled to left, giving the ‘Topes their first hit of the game. Wilson scored two batters later when Chris Ashby hit a two-out RBI double to the wall in left field to give the visitors a one-run lead.

The Sounds did not strike back until the bottom of the seventh inning. Mike Rivera and Dave Krynzel started the inning off with a pair of walks against Fulchino before Albuquerque manager Dean Treanor made a double switch, bringing Joe Horgan to the hill and sending James Shanks to left field. Following a double steal, Chris Barnwell, the Sounds' hottest hitter, greeted Horgan with an RBI single just out of the reach of Albuquerque second baseman Drew Niles to score Jermaine Clark, who had pinch-run for Rivera at second. Clark's run knotted the game up at 1-1.

Barnwell's single increased his hitting streak to seven games, the longest active streak on the team, and the infielder finished the game 1-for-2 to raise his team-leading average to .337 on the year.

Sounds manager Frank Kremblas brought in reliever Jason Kershner in the top of the eighth and the southpaw struck out the first three batters he faced but didn't experience the same success in the ninth.

The Isotopes recorded three singles in a row off Kershner to lead off the ninth which loaded the bases for cleanup hitter Scott Seabol, who delivered a soft single over a drawn-in infield to put Albuquerque up 2-1 and chase Kershner from the ballgame.

The visitors continued to score against new Sounds reliever Alec Zumwalt as Wilson hit a two-run ground-rule double with the bases loaded, his second two-bagger of the night.

Albuquerque plated four more runs in the frame on an Ashby RBI single and a three run home run off the bat of Shanks, his fourth roundtripper of the season. By the time the Sounds started to bat in the ninth, the Isotopes had recorded a seven-run lead.

The seven-run inning was the largest allowed by Nashville all season.

Horgan (3-0) blew a save for Albuquerque but was a beneficiary of the big ninth inning outburst as he picked up his third win of the season. Kershner (3-2) was credited with the loss after allowing four earned runs in one-plus inning of work.

The two teams face off for the finale of the four-game series on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Sounds will give right-hander Justin Lehr (0-1, 5.73) the nod and the Isotopes will send Chris George (1-0, 7.65) to the mound.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 5, 2006


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