PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds End Road Trip With Last At-Bat Loss

April 24, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


MEMPHIS - Joe Mather delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to provide the Memphis Redbirds with a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Friday evening at AutoZone Park in the finale of a four-game series.

Despite the loss, the Sounds (9-7) finished a successful first road trip of 2009 with a 6-2 record and split their four-game set against the ‘Birds.

Memphis first baseman Nick Stavinoha opened the ninth by greeting Sounds reliever Wes Littleton with a single to left. After a groundout and an Allen Craig walk, Mather ripped the right-hander's 2-2 offering up the middle for the game-winning knock.

The Nashville offense managed only a season-low three hits in the contest, which featured just eight total knocks between the clubs.

It was a pitcher's duel in the early going as Nashville starter Lindsay Gulin and Memphis starter Clayton Mortensen combined to allow zero hits over the contest's first four frames.

The Sounds broke through in the top of the fifth. With one out, catcher Carlos Corporan ripped the game's first hit, a triple to right, before Gulin drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Tony Gwynn, who extended the PCL's longest hitting streak of the year to 14 games with an RBI single to left to bring home Corporan with the tilt's first run.

Gulin worked five hitless frames to open the contest but departed after throwing 92 pitches. He walked four batters and struck out a pair in his outing.

Memphis took advantage of the left-hander's departure as shortstop Tyler Greene greeted Sounds reliever Matt Ginter with an infield single, breaking up the no-hitter. However, he was promptly caught stealing by Corporan.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman made his second rehab appearance with Nashville when he took the hill in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The all-time Major League saves leader got off to a rough start as David Freese led off with a single up the middle before Craig doubled to left. Joe Mather followed with a sacrifice fly to the wall in left, plating Freese to knot the score at 1-1 and leaving Hoffman with a blown save in the contest.

Redbirds reliever Jess Todd (1-0) was the beneficiary of Mather's last at-bat heroics, picking up his first win of the year after working a hitless inning and striking out two batters. Littleton (0-2) took the loss for Nashville.

Outfielder Cole Gillespie made his Class AAA debut for the Sounds in the contest. He started in left field and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a pair of stolen bases.

The Sounds open an eight-game homestand on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium with the 6 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the division-rival Iowa Cubs (AAA-Cubs). Right-hander Mike Burns (2-0, 3.71) will man the bump for Nashville to face Iowa right-hander Jose Ascanio (0-0, 0.71).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 24, 2009


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