Seventh Heaven! First-Place Sounds Win Again
Published on July 7, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE â Two-out hitting was the name of the game as the Sounds defeated New Orleans, 7-1, on Monday at Greer Stadium to record their seventh consecutive victory overall and 12th in a row at their home park. Six of the seven Nashville runs crossed the plate after two men were retired. The win extends Nashville's lead in the Pacific Coast League's East Division to 2 ½ games over the Zephyrs.
Trailing 1-0 in the last of the third, the Sounds two-out rally started when Nelson Figueroa helped his own cause by lining a single to left-center. Tony Alvarez followed with a rocket to center that Colin Porter couldn't track down on the warning track. Figueroa scampered home to tie the game. John Barnes followed by tattooing a 3-0 Greg Miller delivery over the wall in left for his seventh big fly of year. It ended a 124 at-bat homerless drought for Barnes, who finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI.
The Sounds bats pushed a single run across in the following inning. Mike Gulan led off with team-leading 22nd two-bagger, Rob Mackowiak dropped down a bunt along the third-baseline for an infield hit, and Aaron Holbert reached on a fielder's choice grounder to second, scoring Gulan.
The Sounds plated two more in the last of fifth, both with two outs. Alvarez walked and Barnes made Miller pay for his mistake by plating Alvarez with a double to left. Barnes scored on J.J. Davis' single to center.
Nashville closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth with a run, again after the first two had been retired. Holbert doubled to left field and advanced to third when he swiped his 16th bag of the year, then came plateward on Humberto Cota's single to center.
Figueroa (9-5) went eight innings allowing just the one run to earn his team-best ninth win of the year, tying him for second among Pacific Coast League hurlers. He fanned eight Zephyr batters. Miller (0-3) took the loss after allowing all seven runs in his six innings of work.
The Sounds' seven-game win streak is their third such streak of that length in 2003. The win also moved Nashville 14 games over the .500 mark, a season best.
On Tuesday, the Sounds and Zephyrs will square off in the middle game of the three-game set. Right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (8-5, 4.58) will take to the hill for Nashville and be opposed by New Orleans knuckleballer Greg Miller (5-8, 4.02) in the 7:00 p.m. contest.
CAMP SENT TO DOUBLE-A; GONZALEZ TO JOIN SOUNDS: Right-handed reliever Shawn Camp was reassigned to Double-A Altoona following the game to make room on the roster for left-hander Mike Gonzalez, the Pittsburgh Pirates' No. 9 prospect. Camp posted an 0-1 record and 4.98 ERA (24er/43.1ip) in 33 games (one start) for Nashville this season. Gonzalez, who was slated to open the year in Music City before encountering a back ailment in spring training, has logged an 0-1 record and a 3.38 ERA (5er/13.1ip) during 11 games of work at Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona before joining the Sounds.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 7, 2003
- Two out magic: Rosamond lifts Express - Round Rock Express
- Seventh Heaven! First-Place Sounds Win Again - Nashville Sounds
- Condrey Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Portland Beavers
- Stein, Rodriguez Transferred to Edmonton - Edmonton Trappers
- PCL Celebrates Independence Day - PCL1
- Berger, Condrey Take PCL Honors - PCL1
- Express Continue Homestand - Round Rock Express
- Zephyrs Add Three to Roster - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sox are Swept in Omaha - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Gosling Wins Eighth Game, Tucson Back to .500 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Redbirds Down Zephyrs, 6-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
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