PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Drop Series Opener To Royals, 8-2

Published on April 30, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The visiting Omaha Royals defeated the Nashville Sounds by an 8-2 count on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

Former Major Leaguer Bruce Chen (1-1) earned his first victory of the year for Omaha with seven strong innings of work, allowing two runs, both on homers, and striking out five.

Omaha plated eight runs on the evening without the benefit of an extra-base hit. The bottom of the Royals order did the majority of the damage as #7 hitter Chris Lubanski went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and #8 hitter Cory Aldridge turned in a 4-for-4, four-RBI effort to pace the visitors.

Omaha took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning against Sounds starter Lindsay Gulin and the southpaw was fortunate to avoid further damage after the Royals loaded the bases with only one out. Aldridge singled to center with the sacks full to bring home Kila Ka'ahuie with the contest's first run. Gulin worked out of the jam but inducing an inning-ending double play grounder from Luis Hernandez.

The Royals increased the lead to 5-0 in the fifth with a four-run outburst against Gulin. All four runs came plateward on two-out singles, including a two-run knock by Aldridge.

Nashville designated hitter Adam Heether put the home club on the board in the bottom of the fifth when he belted a two-out solo homer to left off Royals starter Bruce Chen. It was his first roundtripper of the year.

Omaha tacked on three more two-out runs in the sixth against Sounds reliever Chris Narveson. Lubanski plated two with a bases-loaded single before Aldridge delivered his third run-scoring knock of the night.

The Sounds dialed up the longball again in the sixth when shortstop Alcides Escobar (2-for-4) smashed a one-out solo shot to left off Chen. The infielder's second tater of the year made it an 8-2 contest.

Gulin (1-1) took his first loss of the year for the Sounds after allowing five runs on eight hits while walking seven batters in his five innings of action.

Third baseman Mat Gamel extended the Sounds' longest active hitting streak to five games with a fourth-inning double, his team-leading eighth two-bagger of the year.

The teams continue the series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Friday evening. Right-hander Mike Burns (2-0, 3.91) will make the start for Nashville to face Omaha left-hander Lenny DiNardo (1-0, 3.00).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 30, 2009


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