PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Drop Homestand Opener, 6-1

May 11, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE — The Nashville Sounds opened their homestand on the wrong foot, falling 6-1 to the red-hot Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday evening in the opener of a four-game series at Greer Stadium. The victory was Tacoma's PCL-best eighth in a row.

Tacoma second baseman Mickey Lopez gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he belted his second home run of the season, a one-out solo shot off Nashville starter Dave Williams.

The Sounds tied the contest at 1-1 in the sixth. Tony Alvarez slapped Tacoma starter Bobby Madritsch's first pitch of the inning to left for a single and Randall Simon followed by reaching on a fielding error by Rainiers third baseman Justin Leone. Ruben Mateo then delivered an RBI double into the left field corner that drove in Alvarez with the tying run, although Simon was thrown out at third on the play.

The Rainiers jumped back in front in the seventh, scoring three runs against Nashville reliever Willis Roberts to take a 4-1 lead. Guzman led off the frame with an infield single and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk to Mickey Lopez, Hiram Bocachica broke the tie with an RBI single to left. Roberts fanned Bucky Jacobsen for the second out of the inning but was touched by Tacoma catcher Ben Davis for a two-out, two-run single.

Bocachica – who finished 4-for-5 in the contest – and Jacobsen wrapped up the Tacoma scoring in the top of the ninth with back-to-back, two-out solo homers off Juan Acevedo. The longballs were Bocachica's third of the season and Jacobsen's sixth of the campaign.

Madritsch (3-0) picked up the victory after allowing one run on six hits in his seven innings of work. Roberts (2-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits in his 1 1/3 innings of relief work.

Williams turned in a solid effort for the Sounds despite a no-decision, fanning five batters and allowing only one run in his 5 2/3 innings of work.

The Sounds and Rainiers continue the series with a noon matinee on Wednesday. Right-hander John VanBenschoten (0-5, 8.13) takes the hill for Nashville in search of his first career Triple-A victory in his seventh start of the year. He'll be opposed by Tacoma right-hander Clint Nageotte (3-2, 4.15).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2004


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