NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Nashville Sounds

Sounds fall to Iowa, 7-6 in 11 innings

April 11, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


DES MOINES - Chicago Cubs top prospect Felix Pie, who had already belted a grand slam in the contest, produced a game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th inning to lead the Iowa Cubs to a 7-6 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Monday evening at Principal Park in the opener of a four-game series.

All four of the Sounds' losses this season have come when the opponent scores the winning run in its final at-bat. The contest was Nashville's second extra-inning affair in the club's first five games.

Jamal Strong opened the Iowa eleventh by getting hit by an Allan Simpson pitch. Buck Coats followed with a sacrifice bunt that was mishandled by Sounds catcher Mike Rivera, allowing the second baseman to reach safely.

Nashville skipper Frank Kremblas summoned shortstop Chris Barnwell - who threw 4 2/3 scoreless relief innings for the Sounds in 2005 - to the mound to face the next I-Cubs hitter, pinch-hitter Augie Ojeda. Ojeda laid down a bunt back to Barnwell but the throw to third was late, loading the bases for Pie. The 21-year-old hammered a ball off the wall in left-center, giving the Cubs their fourth straight victory.

David Aardsma (1-0) picked up the victory after working two hitless innings with four strikeouts, while Simpson (0-2) took his second loss of the year after being charged with the game-winning run.

The Sounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Vinny Rottino's first home run of the season, a two-out solo shot off Iowa starter Rich Hill in the top of the first inning. Nashville doubled the lead in the second when Rivera stole home as part of a double steal against Hill. Barnwell stole second on the play.

Pie put the home team ahead in the bottom of the inning with a two-out grand slam off Sounds starter Justin Thompson. The blast, which spotted Iowa a 4-2 lead, was the outfielder's first of the year and came after a costly walk to Hill, who rallied from a 1-2 count against Thompson to draw the free pass.

Ryan Theriot followed Pie's blast with a single to chase Thompson, who lasted only 1 2/3 innings and surrendered five runs on six hits in his Sounds debut. Cubs third baseman Casey McGehee greeted reliever Wilton Chavez with an RBI double to right to increase the Iowa advantage to 5-2.

Following that hit, Chavez settles down and turned in a solid relief outing for the Sounds, working 4 1/3 scoreless frames while allowing only that one hit and striking out five.

Iowa pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot greeted Nashville reliever with a solo homer to center in the bottom of the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2. The blast, which came on a 3-1 offering, was his first of the season.

The Sounds rallied in the eighth, plating a pair of runs against the Iowa bullpen to make it a close game at 6-4. Dave Krynzel opened the frame with a pinch-hit single off Mark Watson and moved to third when Tony Gwynn doubled into the right field corner. Brent Abernathy followed with a routine grounder to third but McGehee's throw was mishandled by Cubs first baseman Brandon Sing for a two-base error, allowing Krynzel to score.

Rottino followed with his second RBI of the contest, plating Gwynn with a sacrifice fly to left-center for the first out of the inning. Cubs closer Roberto Novoa was summoned from the bullpen and struck out Nelson Cruz then popped up Mike Rivera to escape the jam and protect the two-run lead.

Nashville rallied again in the ninth, scoring two more runs to tie the contest at 6-6. With one out, Brad Nelson drew a walk and moved to second on a bloop single to right by Enrique Cruz, the infielder's first hit of the season. Pinch-hitter Jermaine Clark drove home Nelson and moved Cruz to third with an RBI single off the top of the wall in right that was adeptly handled by Iowa rightfielder Michael Restovich.

Gwynn ripped a grounder up the first-base line that was gloved by Sing, who stepped on the bag for the second out of the inning. Clark got hung up in a rundown between first and second on the play but avoided the tag long enough for Cruz to score the tying run before Iowa completed the double play.

The teams continue their series with a 12:05 p.m. matinee on Tuesday afternoon. Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets will make a rehabilitation start for the Sounds. He is currently on the 15-day D.L. with a right posterior shoulder strain. Iowa will counter with right-hander Jae-Kuk Ryu (0-0, 1.80).

Check out the Nashville Sounds Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...

Pacific Coast League Stories from April 11, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central