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PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Blast Way Past I-Cubs, 6-5

May 31, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mike Rivera and Nelson Cruz each homered and combined to drive in five of Nashville's six runs in leading the Sounds to a 6-5 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium.

The game was the fifth consecutive one-run contest between Iowa and Nashville (29-24). Nine of the teams' 14 meetings this season have been one-run decisions.

Iowa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Ryan Theriot scored on a double play groundout.

Nashville catcher Mike Rivera put the home team in front in the bottom of the fourth inning with a one-out two-run homer to left off Iowa starter Ryan O'Malley. The blast, which scored new Sound Graham Koonce, was the backstop's seventh of the season.

The Sounds upped the lead to 6-1 in the fifth with a four-run rally against O'Malley. Second baseman Zach Sorensen opened the scoring with his first hit of the season, an RBI triple to left-center that brought in Tony Gwynn. Sorensen went 2-for-4 in his first game of action for Nashville since April 8. He was activated prior to the game after being sidelined with right biceps tendinitis for the majority of the year.

After Brent Abernathy drew a walk to continue the top of the fifth for the Sounds, Nelson Cruz slugged his team-leading 13th home run of the year - a three-run shot to left that hit high on the guitar-shaped scoreboard in left field.

Iowa left fielder Luis Montanez hit a guitar shot of his own a half-inning later, belting a one-out solo shot off Nashville reliever Wilton Chavez. It was his second tater of the season and made it a 6-2 game.

The Cubs pulled within a pair in the seventh when Mike Fontenot ripped a two-run double into the right field corner to chase Chavez and reduce the Nashville lead to 6-4.

Iowa continued its comeback in the eighth, putting the first two runners on base against Chris Demaria before Buck Coats greeted Mitch Stetter with an RBI single to left-center to make it a 6-5 contest. With runners left at first and second, the southpaw worked out of the jam by retiring the next three batters to avoid further damage and sustain the one-run advantage.

Sounds closer Allan Simpson made sure the buck stopped there as he shut down the Cubs in the ninth with a one-two-three inning to notch his fifth save of the year.

Gwynn went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles for the Sounds to extend his hitting streak to six games and increase his average to a season-best .332 on the year. Jermaine Clark also added a three-hit evening for Nashville.

Sounds starter Dennis Sarfate (3-2) allowed one run on six hits over five innings and worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam unscathed in his final frame of work to pick up the victory.

Nashville pitchers combined to strike out 12 Iowa batters, the club's third consecutive double-digit punchout performance after 23 straight games without recording 10 or more K's.

O'Malley (3-3) took the loss for the Cubs after allowing six runs on eight hits over six innings of work.

The teams continue the series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Thursday evening. Right-hander Justin Lehr (0-1, 5.40) makes his first start of the year at Greer Stadium when he toes the rubber for the Sounds. Iowa will counter with left-hander Les Walrond (5-1, 2.37).

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