PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Earn Series Split With 10-9 Victory Over Beavers

Published on August 4, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Gabe Gross paced a 12-hit attack with a pair of home runs and Adam Pettyjohn was victorious in his sixth consecutive start as the Nashville Sounds defeated the Portland Beavers, 10-9, on Saturday evening at PGE Park in the finale of a four-game series.

With the win, Nashville (69-45) gained a series split and maintained its 6 ½ game lead over Iowa in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

The Sounds jumped out to an 8-0 lead and withstood a late Portland comeback to hang on for the victory.

Nashville grabbed a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning against rehabbing Portland starter Shawn Estes. Tony Gwynn got things started with a bases-loaded, two-run double that scored Vinny Rottino (3-for-5) and Chris Barnwell, who opened the frame with consecutive singles. Gross followed with a three-run homer to center, his second longball as a Sound and of the series, to extend the advantage to five.

Barnwell made it a 6-0 contest in the third when he belted his seventh home run of the year, a one-out line-drive shot to left off Estes.

Gross continued his solid night in the fourth with his second longball of the night, a solo shot to right off Estes. His two-homer effort is the 10th multiple-longball game by a Sounds batter in 2007. Nashville added another run later in the frame on Vinny Rottino's two-out RBI single off Portland reliever Steve Watkins that brought in Rickie Weeks (3-for-4) for an 8-0 lead.

Portland halved the Nashville lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out rally against Pettyjohn. Royce Huffman broke up the shutout with a bases-loaded RBI single, bringing the score to 8-1. Watkins made it an 8-4 contest when he cleared the bases with a two-RBI single to center that was coupled with a fielding error by Charles Thomas, who replaced Gwynn in center in the third inning.

The Sounds got a pair of runs back in the sixth against Portland reliever Will Startup. Gross scored on a throwing error by Beavers rightfielder Hiram Bocachica to increase the lead to 9-4 and Mike Rivera plated Weeks later in the frame with a two-out RBI single.

Former Sound Frank Menechino closed the gap to 10-6 in the bottom of the seventh with a bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single off Tim Dillard.

Portland continued its comeback in the ninth, pulling within a run. Menechino struck again with a two-run triple off Mitch Stetter then scored on a Pete Laforest groundout to make it 10-9 contest.

Sounds closer Luther Hackman was summoned from the bullpen and retired Craig Stansberry on one pitch to notch his team-leading 16th save of the year.

Pettyjohn (9-2) pulled into a tie for the team wins lead with Zach Jackson by earning his ninth victory of the year. The southpaw allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits over six frames.

Estes (0-1) took the loss after being tagged for eight runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work. He threw 74 pitches, 41 for strikes, in his first Triple-A rehab outing.

Following Saturday's game, the Sounds take a 2 1/2 hour drive up I-5 to Tacoma, Washington, where they'll wrap up their road trip with a four-game series against the Rainiers (AAA-Mariners), the clubs' lone meeting this season.

The teams begin the series with a 3:35 p.m. CT opener on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Mark DiFelice (2-0, 1.13) will man the bump for Nashville to face Tacoma southpaw Jake Woods (3-7, 7.21).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 4, 2007


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