Sounds Come Back To Knock Off RedHawks, 9-4
Published on April 25, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY - Nelson Cruz belted his team-leading sixth homer and drove in three runs to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 9-4, come-from-behind victory over the host Oklahoma RedHawks on Tuesday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
With the win, Nashville (12-7) recorded a 2-1 series victory and improved to 6-1 on the year against Oklahoma. The first-place Sounds stole four bases and ripped four of their eight hits for extra bases.
Sounds catcher Mike Rivera broke a 2-2 tie and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run single to highlight a four-run sixth inning.
Outfielder Tony Gwynn upped his team-best hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the top of the ninth inning, finishing 1-for-5 on the night.
Oklahoma designated hitter Erubiel Durazo gave the home team a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff home run to right off Sounds starter Dennis Sarfate. The blast was his second roundtripper of the year.
The RedHawks doubled the advantage in the third when Sarfate issued four consecutive two-out walks to force home Jason Botts with the game's second run.
Sarfate - who took a no-decision - suffered through an erratic three-inning outing, his shortest start of the young season. The right-hander threw 75 pitches but only 34 for strikes, and issued five walks while allowing two runs on two hits. Through four starts (16.1 IP), Sarfate has totaled 16 walks and only 12 strikeouts.
Nashville jumped on the board in the top of the fourth when Corey Hart (2-for-5) ripped a one-out double to right off Oklahoma starter John Hudgins and scored when Nelson Cruz followed with an RBI single, making the score 2-1.
The Sounds tied the contest at 2-2 in the fifth on Enrique Cruz's two-out RBI double off RedHawks reliever Kevin Walker, which scored Brad Nelson. Cruz has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.
The visitors' offense kept rolling and plated four runs in the top of the sixth to grab a 6-2 lead. Rivera gave the Sounds a 4-2 lead with a two-run single off Kelvin Jimenez. Jermaine Clark and Nelson Cruz, who had drawn walks from Walker then each stole a base, scored on the knock. Brent Abernathy followed with an RBI double to right to bring in Rivera then scored the frame's final run on a Jimenez wild pitch.
Oklahoma cut the lead in half with one swing of the bat in the bottom half of the inning when Rashad Eldridge slugged a two-run homer to right off reliever Wilton Chavez. The longball, which plated Jamie Burke, was his second of the season.
The Sounds tacked on three insurance runs with a two-out rally in the top of the ninth against rehabbing Texas Rangers hurler Brian Shouse. After Clark reached on a fielder's choice that erased Gwynn, the second baseman swiped his team-leading eighth bag of the year then scored on a Hart RBI single. Nelson Cruz followed with a two-run shot to left to cap off the evening's scoring and up the Nashville lead to its final 9-4.
Chavez (2-1) picked up the victory after striking out six batters while allowing two runs in his 3 2/3 innings of work. Walker (0-2) took his second loss of the series after getting touched for two runs in his two-thirds of an inning.
After joining the entire Pacific Coast League with an off day tomorrow, the Sounds continue their road trip on Thursday in New Orleans, where they'll take on the Zephyrs in the clubs' first of four series this season. Nashville won the 2005 season series by an 11-5 margin but the teams split their eight meetings at Zephyr Field.
Left-hander Justin Thompson (0-0, 5.79) will start the 7:00 p.m. CT series opener for the Sounds on Thursday night. New Orleans will send right-hander Kyle Denney (0-1, 3.18) to the hill.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 25, 2006
- Big innings doom RedHawks - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sounds Come Back To Knock Off RedHawks, 9-4 - Nashville Sounds
- Murphy dictates Bees' 11-8 victory - Portland Beavers
- Iowa Cubs vs. Round Rock suspended - Iowa Cubs
- Series Finale Suspended in Sixth - Round Rock Express
- Isotopes roll to fourth straight win, 4-3, over Z's in 10 innings - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sidewinders get first sweep of season over Sky Sox, 3-2 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Isotopes sweep aside Z's - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Redbirds Home for Memphis in May - Memphis Redbirds
- Stokes named PCL Batter of the Week - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Isotopes' Stokes Swings Way into Player of the Week Spot - PCL1
- Casey Locked Up at Upstream for MDA - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Beavers add Jon Adkins to roster, Walter Young released - Portland Beavers
- Royals and Redbirds Rained Out - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sidewinders to host third annual charity golf tournament - Tucson Sidewinders
- Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
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