PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Lose Third Straight, Lead Cut To 5 1/2 Games

August 17, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


TACOMA, Wash. -- The Nashville Sounds dropped their third straight game on Saturday evening, losing an 8-6 decision to the Tacoma Rainiers at Cheney Stadium in the second game of a four-game series.

The loss combined with second-place New Orleans' doubleheader sweep of Iowa in the Big Easy reduced Nashville's lead in the PCL East to 5 1/2 games.

Tacoma jumped all over Nashville starter Ryan Vogelsong, building an 8-0 lead over the first two innings to put the game away early.

Mickey Lopez gave the host Rainiers a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first with a solo homer to right, his sixth longball of the year. The home team put together a seven-run second on seven hits. Infielder Jeff Cirillo delivered the big blow in the frame, belting the first home run of his rehabilitation assignment off Vogelsong.

The Sounds began their comeback attempt in the third when they scored three runs, courtesy of a Dave Doster two-run double and an RBI two-bagger from J.J. Davis. Nashville tacked on another run in the fifth on Doster's ninth home run of the season -- a solo shot off Tacoma starter Craig Anderson -- to make the score 8-4.

Nashville added two more runs the following inning, thanks to a pair of Rainiers errors, to pull within two runs at 8-6. The Sounds had runners on base in both the seventh and ninth inning but were unable to plate any more runs against the Tacoma bullpen.

Doster continued his torrid hitting for the Sounds, turning in his fifth consecutive two-hit effort with a 2-for-5, three RBI outing. Davis also stayed hot at the dish with a 3-for-5 outing that included a pair of doubles. Adam Hyzdu also slugged a two-bagger to highlight his 2-for-4 night.

Infielder Bobby Hill made his Pirates organization debut as the Sounds' leadoff hitter but finished 0-for-4 with a walk and a caught stealing in his first game in a Nashville uniform.

Anderson (10-11) picked up the victory, while Vogelsong (11-8) failed in his attempt to pull into a tie for the PCL wins lead and drew the loss. J.J. Putz tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his eighth save, his second in as many nights.

The teams meet again in a 3:35 p.m. CDT Sunday matinee for the third game of the series. Right-hander Matt Guerrier (3-6, 4.13) takes the hill for Nashville for his first start since July 10. He missed a month of action while on the disabled list due to right rotator cuff tendinitis. Tacoma will counter with right-hander Ken Cloude (3-4, 5.43).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 17, 2003


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