Sounds Split Twinbill In Front Of Sellout Crowd
Published on June 7, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE â The Nashville Sounds and Fresno Grizzlies turned in a pair of close contests while splitting a doubleheader in front of a standing room only crowd of 10,611 fans on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Nashville took the opener, 3-2, before the visiting Grizzlies scored a last at-bat, 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
Fresno struck first in the opening game, taking a 1-0 lead when Fresno pitcher Ryan Jensen squared to bunt with runners at first and second then pulled back and slapped a single up the middle to plate Lance Niekro.
The Sounds struck back quickly and took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the frame. Leftfielder Tony Alvarez knotted the score with a sacrifice fly to right that drove in Brad King and Matt Stairs broke the tie one batter later with an RBI single to left to bring home Tike Redman, who had stolen his PCL-leading 25th base earlier in the frame. King increased the Nashville lead to 3-1 in the fourth when he plated shortstop Tomas de la Rosa with an RBI double.
Fresno pulled within a run in the fifth. Pinch-hitter Clay Bellinger led off the inning with a double down the left-field line but was thrown out at the plate two batters later on Todd Linden's grounder to first baseman Carlos Rivera. After Linden stole second, Francisco Santos delivered a two-out RBI double to make the score 3-2.
Sounds closer Mark Corey came on to pitch the seventh and worked out of a two-on, two-out jam to register his league-leading 17th save.
Nashville starter Nelson Figueroa (6-3) picked up the victory after allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings, while Jensen (0-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing all three Sounds runs in his four innings of work.
The nightcap opened with Fresno plating an unearned run in the top of the first inning against Nashville starter Dave Williams that resulted from his own error on a failed pickoff attempt. The Sounds responded in the second with a pair of runs to grab a one-run lead. Mike Gulan and Alvarez opened the frame with back-to-back singles before both hustled home on J.J. Davis' two-run double into the left-field corner against Fresno starter Jeff Urban. Urban recovered to strike out de la Rosa, Humberto Cota, and Williams in order to escape further damage.
Williams, making his first start in over a year after undergoing left shoulder surgery, was removed after two innings due to a pitch count and turned the game over to reliever Justin Reid. Williams threw 41 pitches, 27 for strikes, surrendered four hits and fanned three batters over his two innings of work, allowing only one unearned run.
Fresno pounced on the Sounds right-hander for a three-spot in his first inning of work, the top of the third. Linden led off the frame with a double and tied the game by scoring on a Bellinger RBI single before Tony Torcato followed with a two-run blast to right field that gave the visiting Grizzlies a 4-2 lead.
Nashville rallied again to tie the score in their half of the inning. With one out, Barnes doubled and Stairs walked before Gulan ripped an RBI two-bagger to right-center, which scored Barnes to pull the Sounds within a run at 4-3. Alvarez walked to load the bases. One out later, de la Rosa drew a two-out RBI base on balls from Urban to tie the game. Urban escaped trouble for the second consecutive inning by fanning King on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning with the bases full of Sounds.
Neither team scored again until the seventh as both bullpens turned in solid outings. Fresno plated the go-ahead run against Nashville reliever Pat Mahomes in the top of the seventh. Linden opened the innings with his second double of the nightcap and moved to third on a one-out Bellinger groundout. After Torcato was intentionally walked, Ransom put the Grizzlies ahead with a broken-bat single through the left side of the infield to drive in Linden with the eventual game-winning run.
The Sounds put the potential tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh via a Stairs walk, but Fresno closer Manny Aybar fanned Gulan and Alvarez to close out the game and record his eighth save of the season.
Reliever Joe Horgan (3-1) was credited with the win after tossing a scoreless inning. Mahomes (5-2) took the loss for Nashville after allowing the go-ahead run at the end of his three-inning stint.
The teams wrap up their four-game series on Sunday evening with a 6 p.m. finale. Nashville right-hander Matt Guerrier (0-4, 5.58) looks for his first victory of the season in his ninth start. Fresno will counter with right-hander Brian Powell (4-6, 3.18).
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 7, 2003
- Frisco plays rude host to Round Rock - Round Rock Express
- Sounds Split Twinbill In Front Of Sellout Crowd - Nashville Sounds
- Trappers Game in Omaha Rained Out - Edmonton Trappers
- Royals and Trappers Rained Out Saturday - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Edwards Guzman Selected by Montreal - Edmonton Trappers
- Sox Lose in 11 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Travelers outlast Express - Round Rock Express
- Big Crowd at Rosenblatt Enjoys 8-7 Win - Omaha Storm Chasers
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.
