PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Drop Homestand Opener to Redbirds, 7-5

Published on June 14, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Monday evening at historic Greer Stadium, falling 7-5 to the division-leading Memphis Redbirds in the opener of a six-game series.

Nashville (33-30), which is mired in its longest skid of the season, has lost nine of its last 11 games.

Outfielder Brendan Katin, playing in just his second home game of the year, spotted the Sounds a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when he belted his team-leading seventh homer of the year, a solo shot to left off Redbirds starter Ryan Kulik. Katin suffered a knee injury in Nashville's home opener on April 16 and missed seven weeks before returning to action during the club's recent road trip.

Oeltjen doubled the Nashville advantage to 2-0 in the fourth when he led off the frame with a solo homer to center off Kulik, the outfielder's fourth longball of the year.

Starter Chris Waters allowed two hits over five scoreless innings for the Sounds, exiting after throwing 73 pitches. He took a no-decision, however, as Memphis quickly rallied against the Nashville bullpen.

Memphis sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth, plating seven runs against a pair of Nashville relievers to grab a 7-2 lead.

The first three batters to face Sounds right-hander Tim Dillard recorded singles. The third of those hits, off the bat of Joe Mather, plated Tyler Greene to halve the Sounds' lead to 2-1. After a walk and a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Dillard issued a bases-loaded walk to Rapoport, forcing home Allen Craig with the tying run.

Right-hander David Johnson was summoned from the Nashville bullpen and inherited a bases-loaded jam from Dillard. He struck out pinch-hitter Bryan Anderson before issuing a four-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Kevin Howard to plate Mather and give Memphis a 3-2 lead. Jon Jay followed with a bases-clearing, three-run double into the right field corner to increase the Redbirds' cushion to 6-2. Greene added an RBI single to wrap up the inning's scoring.

Nashville pulled back within a pair of runs at 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth with three runs against Redbirds reliever Andrew Brown. Norris Hopper (4-for-4) ripped a two-run double into the right field corner then later scored on a Ray Olmedo groundout.

The Sounds could get no closer over the final three frames against the Memphis bullpen. They put two runners on for Katin in the eighth, but he was retired by Rich Hill on an inning-ending groundout to squelch the threat.

Kulik (1-1) picked up his first win of the year for the Redbirds, allowing two runs on the two homers while striking out six batters in his five frames of work.

Dillard (1-3) absorbed the loss for Nashville after being tagged for five runs in just one-third of an inning.

The teams continue the series with a 6:05 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday evening. Left-hander Chuck Löfgren (6-4, 4.58) will toe the rubber for the Sounds in the first seven-inning contest to face Memphis right-hander Brandon Dickson (7-3, 3.16). Newly-signed right-hander Marty McLeary (0-5, 12.21 in 9G with Las Vegas) will start the nightcap for Nashville against Redbirds right-hander Oneli Perez (2-2, 4.74).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 14, 2010


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