PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds drop homestand opener to I-Cubs, 2-1

Published on May 30, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Iowa left-hander Rich Hill struck out 14 batters, the most by a PCL hurler this season, over seven scoreless innings to lead the visiting Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

Hill (2-1), who retired 16 straight batters at one point, allowed only a pair of singles over his seven frames to earn the victory. His 14 K's were two shy of the Iowa franchise record and the most by a Pacific Coast League hurler this season.

The one-run game was the eighth such contest of the 13 played between Iowa and Nashville this season. The Sounds' seven losses to the Cubs in 2006 have come by a cumulative 10 runs.

Tony Gwynn (triple, single) and Chris Barnwell (two singles) recorded the only hits on the evening for Nashville (28-24). The four knocks matched the club's lowest output of the year. Sounds batters combined to strike out 17 times, matching the 2nd-highest single-game total in club history.

Iowa broke a scoreless tie with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the eighth inning. After the first two batters of the frame were retired, Ryan Theriot ripped his second double of the contest into the left field corner to chase Sounds starter Ben Hendrickson, who turned in his second consecutive solid performance from the hill.

Jason Kershner came on in relief for Nashville and walked Buck Coats before allowing an infield single to pinch-hitter Michael Restovich. Theriot rounded third on the play and scored without a throw to give the Cubs a 1-0 advantage. Micah Hoffpauir followed with a single up the middle to double the visitors' lead to 2-0.

Hendrickson (2-1) was nearly as impressive as Hill on the evening, holding the Cubs to one run on three hits over 7 2/3 innings while striking out a Sounds season-high 10 batters. After allowing a game-opening double to Theriot, the right-hander retired 18 consecutive Iowa batters before issuing a pair of walks in the seventh. Despite suffering the tough-luck loss, Hendrickson's seasonal ERA dropped to 1.89 through six starts for Nashville.

The Sounds rallied to break up the shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth against Wuertz. With one out, Gwynn tripled off the right-center wall and scored a batter later when Barnwell ripped an RBI single to center off Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz.

Gwynn went 2-for-4 for the Sounds to extend his hitting streak to five games. He is batting a solid .388 (31-for-80) over his last 19 games.

Wuertz worked the final two innings for Iowa, allowing a run on two hits, to earn his third save of the year.

The teams continue the series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Wednesday evening. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (2-2, 3.26) takes the hill for the Sounds to face Iowa southpaw Ryan O'Malley (3-2, 3.05).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 30, 2006


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