PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Open Homestand With 5-2 Loss

Published on July 22, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds opened their homestand on the short end of a 5-2 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

Tacoma took advantage of a two-out dropped fly ball by Tony Gwynn in center field to grab a 2-0 lead against Mark DiFelice in the top of the first inning. Wladimir Balentien doubled to left before Gwynn failed to glove a Victor Diaz fly to allow the first run to score. Shawn Garrett followed with an RBI double to right-center that increased the visitors' advantage to two.

The Sounds tied the contest in the sixth against Tacoma reliever Tracy Thorpe. Tony Gwynn led off with a single and moved to second on a Joe Dillon single before both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Brad Nelson walked to load the bases. Laynce Nix halved the Rainiers' lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Gwynn before Vinny Rottino delivered a game-tying, two-out RBI single to right later in the frame.

The visitors quickly re-took the lead in the top of the seventh when they erupted for three runs against the Nashville bullpen. Rob Johnson and Luis Valbuena opened the frame with consecutive doubles off reliever Troy Cate to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead. After a flyout, Joe Bateman took over on the hill and was greeted by another set of back-to-back RBI doubles off the bats of Matt Tuiasosopo and Balentien that brought the score to 5-2.

Thorpe (2-3) picked up the win for the Rainiers despite being charged with a blown save as he allowed two runs on four hits in a season-high three innings of work.

Cate (1-2) took a loss in his Sounds debut after giving up two runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Neither starter factored in the decision despite a pair of solid efforts. DiFelice allowed two unearned runs over his five frames of action for the Sounds to lower his ERA to 2.92 through eight starts with the club. Tacoma left-hander Jake Woods struck out five batters over his five scoreless innings for the visitors.

The teams continue the series with a noon matinee on Wednesday afternoon. Left-hander Lindsay Gulin (5-4, 3.67) will man the bump for Nashville to face Rainiers right-hander Andy Baldwin (6-5, 5.40).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 22, 2008


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