Sounds Clinch Third Straight Division Title
Published on August 26, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds wrapped up their third consecutive division title and fourth in five years with a 1-0 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium in the finale of a six-game series.
The Sounds (83-53), the three-time defending PCL American Conference Northern Division champions, will make their 13th postseason appearance in the franchise's 30-year history.
Nashville, which has eight games remaining in the regular season, advances to face the yet-to-be-determined American Conference Southern Division champions in the best-of-five PCL Conference Finals during the first week of September.
Mark DiFelice (6.2 IP) and Chris Spurling combined on the four-hit shutout, the club's league-leading 11th of the season.
The Sounds broke a scoreless tie in the seventh against former Nashville closer Luther Hackman, who took over for a dominant Edinson Volquez to open the inning. Laynce Nix walked to open the frame and was sacrificed to second before Ozzie Chavez singled and Chris Barnwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases with only one out.
After Randy Williams relieved Hackman, Callix Crabbe greeted the left-hander by lifting a sacrifice fly to right to plate Nix with the game's first run and a 1-0 Sounds lead.
Both starters engaged in a pitcher's duel as the teams played six scoreless innings to open the contest. DiFelice worked 6 2/3 scoreless frames, allowing only three hits and striking out six batters. His effort was matched by Volquez, who lowered his ERA to 1.41 with six shutout innings that included eight punchouts.
Spurling (2-0) took over on the Nashville hill in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on base, worked out of that jam, and held the RedHawks off the board over the final two frames to earn his second victory of the season.
Hackman (1-3) took the loss after allowing the game's only run in his second appearance for the RedHawks after joining the club earlier in the week. He spent the majority of the year with Nashville before being released on August 18.
The division-champion Sounds continue their homestand on Monday evening with the 6 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the division-rival Omaha Royals. Right-hander R.A. Dickey (11-6, 3.74) will man the bump for Nashville to face Omaha right-hander Matt Wright (9-4, 4.11).
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 26, 2007
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