Sounds Outslugged By Express In 10-5 Loss
Published on July 5, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Each Sounds pitcher gave up a home run as Nashville lost 10-5 in a slugfest with the Round Rock Express on Saturday night at Greer Stadium.
Despite out-hitting the Express with multiple-hit efforts from five Sounds starters, Nashville left eight men on base and gave up a four-run lead to drop its fourth game in a row.
The Express got on the board in the top of the first inning when Edwin Maysonet doubled on a 3-2 pitch off Sounds starter Richie Gardner to left field and then scored on a single from Nick Gorneault to right field. Gorneault, who had two RBIs on the night, now has eight RBIs in six games against the Sounds this year.
The Sounds offense finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning against Express starter Kyle Middleton with a five-run rally that was capped off by a three-run home run from Tony Gwynn. The longball was Gwynn's first on the year and the first in his last 573 at bats. His last homer came on August 22, 2006 against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Greer Stadium.
Ozzie Chavez also notched an RBI single during the rally, and Gardner helped his own cause with a fielder's choice bunt that scored Adam Heether from third base. The five-run inning was the largest scoring output for the Sounds in the last four games.
Gardner pitched five consecutive scoreless innings and retired 11 batters in a row at one point before giving up three runs in the top of the sixth. J.R. House led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a single by Gorneault. Jackson Melian then followed with a two-run homer over the right field wall off Gardner. The home run was Melian's first of the year for the Express.
Round Rock then took the lead in the top of the seventh inning after reliever Randy Choate came in for Gardner. Choate retired the first two batters before giving up a walk to Maysonet and a single to House. Mark Saccomanno then stepped up to the plate and crushed a 1-0 offering over the center field wall for his 19th home run of the season.
The Express then tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth inning when Ray Sadler belted a two-run homer off Sounds reliever Ben Howard over the guitar scoreboard in left field. The longball was Sadler's 11th on the year and scored Tommy Manzella, who singled in the previous at-bat.
House added his ninth home run of the year in the top of the ninth off reliever Zack Jackson to bring the Express lead to five.
Gardner pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits but did not factor in the decision. Choate (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up three earned runs in his one inning of work.
Ray King (1-1) earned the win for the Express after recording two scoreless innings of relief work. Middleton gave up five runs off nine hits in four innings as the starter, and Micah Bowie threw a scoreless eighth inning before Jorge Sosa pitched a perfect ninth to end the game for the Express.
The Sounds will close out their Independence Day weekend homestand with the series finale against the Express at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at Greer Stadium. Southpaw Sam Narron (5-3, 4.08) will man the bump for the Sounds against right-hander Ron Chiavacci (2-2, 6.67) for the Express.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 5, 2008
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