PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Homer Twice, Outlast I-Cubs 8-5

June 3, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


Nashville, TN- The Nashville Sounds used two home runs and a 13-hit attack to defeat the visiting Iowa Cubs by an 8-5 margin on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium in the third game of a four-game set.

There was plenty of offensive activity early for both teams. Run-scoring doubles by Iowa's Russ Johnson and Nashville's Chris Truby amounted to a 1-1 tie at the close of the first inning.

Sounds shortstop Shaun Skrehot belted his first home run of the season, a two-run second-inning shot to left-center off Iowa starter John Koronka, to give Nashville a 3-1 lead. The Cubs responded quickly, plating a pair of one-out scores in the top of the third against Sounds starter Nelson Figueroa on a Bill Selby sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Donny Leon.

Iowa took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Selby led off the frame with a double to right and scored one batter later on Leon's second RBI single of the night. Figueroa lasted only 4 1/3 innings for the Sounds, surrendering a Nashville season-high 12 hits and allowing four runs in his 103-pitch effort. He took seven batters to a 3-2 count, retiring none.

Andy Abad gave the home team a 6-4 lead with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifth, drilling Koronka's first offering over the left-field wall for a two-out, three-run homer. Rich Thompson and Truby, who had both singled, scored ahead of Abad on his second tater of the year.

The back-and-forth scoring continued in the top of the seventh when Selby belted his third home run of the year, a leadoff solo shot to right, off Nashville reliever Justin Reid to pull Iowa within 6-5.

Thompson led off the Nashville seventh with his second bunt single of the night and proceeded to steal second and third on consecutive pitches by reliever Nate Bland. He scored later in the inning on an RBI single by Carlos Rivera, who extended his season-best hit streak to seven games with the knock. Terry Shumpert continued the scoring in the frame, extending the Nashville advantage to 8-5 with an RBI infield single that brought home Truby. The Sounds missed an opportunity to do further damage when Chris Snusz grounded into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.

Nashville right-hander Luther Hackman closed out the contest with 2 1/3 scoreless innings to quiet the Iowa offense and pick up his first save of the season.

Iowa outfielder Trenidad Hubbard went 4-for-5 with three doubles in the losing effort, while Skrehot finished with a 3-for-3 outing for the Sounds.

Justin Reid (3-0) picked up the victory for Nashville by tossing 2 1/3 innings in relief of Figueroa, while Koronka (4-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs in his six innings of work.

The teams wrap up the four-game series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Friday evening. Left-hander Sean Burnett (1-2, 4.83) takes the hill for the Sounds. He'll face recently-demoted Iowa right-hander Sergio Mitre (NR), who will make his first Class AAA appearance of the season.

It will be the Sounds' first Faith Night of the 2004 season. The team will give out Moses bobblehead dolls to the first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles and hold a post-game fireworks show. In addition, local Christian big band group Denver & The Mile-High Orchestra will perform a pre-game concert beginning at approximately 5 p.m. in the main entrance plaza.

Check out the Nashville Sounds Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 3, 2004


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