Sounds Close Road Trip With Extra-Inning Loss
Published on July 10, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
OMAHA - The Omaha Royals scored a one-out run in the bottom of the tenth inning to hang a 6-5 loss on the Nashville Sounds on Thursday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium in the finale of a five-game series.
Despite the defeat, the Sounds (38-57) won three of their five contests in Omaha, marking the club's second winning road series this season. The contest was Nashville's eighth extra-inning affair of the year (3-5).
In the bottom of the tenth, Mike Stodolka led off with a single against Sounds reliever Ben Howard and moved to third on a one-out Chris Lubanski double before scoring the winning run on David Matranga's infield grounder to short, sliding into home to beat catcher Vinny Rottino's tag.
Brendan Katin opened the evening's scoring when he belted his third home run of the series, a mammoth three-run shot to left off Omaha starter Dusty Hughes in the top of the second inning. The blast, Katin's 14th of the year, was the first longball to hit the scoreboard beyond the left field bleachers since they were put up three years ago. Brad Nelson and Rottino, who had opened the frame with a single and double, respectively, scored on the homer.
The Royals tied the contest at 3-3 with a three-spot in the bottom of the fifth against Sounds starter Richie Gardner. Brian Buchanan delivered a one-out, two-run double to left before scoring the tying run later in the frame on a Matt Tupman sacrifice fly.
Nashville home run leader Laynce Nix put the visitors back ahead in the sixth when he slugged his team-best 16th big fly of the year, a one-out solo shot to right off Hughes that gave the Sounds a 4-3 advantage.
For the third straight outing, Gardner departed in line for a victory only to end up with a no-decision following a blown save by the Sounds' bullpen. The right-hander allowed three runs on nine hits over his five frames of action.
Omaha knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth on Mitch Maier's two-out RBI single against Erasmo Ramirez that scored Angel Sanchez, who had opened the inning with a single of his own.
The Royals took a 5-4 lead in the seventh against Tim Dillard. Jason Smith tripled and later scored the go-ahead run on a two-out wild pitch.
The Sounds tied the game in the top of the ninth inning. Rottino doubled off Omaha reliever Devon Lowery then eventually moved to third when the right-hander issued consecutive walks to Katin and Adam Heether.
After Omaha skipper Mike Jirschele summoned Brad Salmon to the hill to replace Lowery, Chris Woodward lifted a sacrifice fly to right-center to plate Rottino and make it a 5-5 contest. The right-hander avoided further damage when he induced an inning-ending groundout from Ozzie Chavez to leave runners at second and third.
The late Omaha score made a winner out of Salmon (6-4), who worked 1 2/3 scoreless frames but took a blown save.
Howard (2-5) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run in his 1 1/3 innings of work.
Nashville centerfielder Tony Gwynn singled in the eighth inning to extend the club's longest active hitting streak to eight games, matching the outfielder's best effort this season.
The Sounds return to Music City on Friday to host the New Orleans Zephyrs in a four-game, three-day weekend series, the third between the clubs this season. The teams have split their initial eight games in 2008.
Left-hander Sam Narron (5-3, 4.26) will man the bump for Nashville in Friday's 7 p.m. series opener. New Orleans will counter with right-hander Ruddy Lugo (6-8, 5.21).
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