Sounds clinch division title with 4-2 win
Published on September 3, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Chris Barnwell's two-run third-inning single put Nashville in front for good as the defending champion Sounds made their reservation for the 2006 Pacific Coast League postseason with a 4-2 division-clinching victory over the Round Rock Express in front of 5,667 exuberant fans on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium.
The win gave the Sounds (76-67) the American Conference Northern Division title for the second straight season. The club advances to face American Southern Division-winning Express in the best-of-five PCL Conference Finals, beginning on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium.
The division title, Nashville's third in the last four seasons, gives the Sounds the 12th postseason berth in the franchise's 29-year history.
Round Rock second baseman Brooks Conrad gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run to right off Sounds starter Justin Lehr, his 24th roundtripper of the season.
Dave Krynzel tied it at 1-1 for the Sounds with a second-inning RBI single that brought home Andrew Beattie, who had opened the inning with a single and stole second.
Nashville pulled ahead 3-1 in the third against Express starter Philip Barzilla. Lehr and Tony Gwynn opened the frame with consecutive doubles to put runners on second and third for Barnwell, who plated both with a two-run single down the right field line. With the go-ahead hit, Barnwell extended his hitting streak to seven games.
The visitors got a run back in the top of the fifth when Round Rock loaded the bases against Lehr with two outs before the hurler was replaced on the hill by Steve Bray, who uncorked a wild pitch during his first batter faced to allow Joe McEwing to score from third before striking out Eric Munson to escape the jam with the Sounds holding a 3-2 lead.
The Sounds added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Round Rock centerfielder Mike Rodriguez dropped a two-out Zach Sorensen fly ball in right-center, allowing Brent Abernathy, who had doubled to open the frame, to score from third and extend the Nashville advantage to 4-2.
Graham Koonce and Abernathy each went 1-for-4 for Nashville to extend their season-best hit streaks to seven games each.
Allan Simpson (2-4) worked two scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory for the Sounds, allowing only one hit.
Luther Hackman made his 2006 Sounds debut and threw two scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 ninth, to notch his first Triple-A save of the season. The right-hander previously pitched for Nashville in 2004 when the club was a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate.
Lehr did not pitch long enough to qualify for the win for Nashville. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four batters and walking four over his 4 2/3 frames of work.
Barzilla (8-5) took the loss after surrendering three runs on eight hits over his six innings of action.
The teams wrap up the 2006 regular season with a noon matinee on Monday afternoon. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (9-7, 3.13) will toe the rubber for Nashville to face Express right-hander Ezequiel Astacio (7-4, 5.13).
Pacific Coast League Stories from September 3, 2006
- Sidewinders reach 91 wins - Tucson Sidewinders
- Isotopes top RedHawks 7-4, win fourth straight - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks clinch second despite loss - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sounds clinch division title with 4-2 win - Nashville Sounds
- Z's shut out by Memphis - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Bees edge Beavers 8-6 - Portland Beavers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes Sept. 3 - Oklahoma City Comets
- 9/3 Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sidewinders Stifle Late Rally, Hold Off Rainers - Tucson Sidewinders
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