PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Win Final Tuneup On Pinch-Hit Homer

April 6, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE — Backup catcher Sandy Martinez belted a pinch-hit solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Nashville Sounds a 1-0 victory over the Belmont Bruins in a seven-inning exhibition contest on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium.

Martinez, who signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a minor-league free agent this off-season, hammered a 2-2 offering from Bruins reliever French Hobbs to deep right to account for one of only three hits in the game and propel the Sounds to victory.

The only other hits in the pitching-dominated affair were a third-inning single to right by Belmont rightfielder Stephen Sundstrom and an infield single to shortstop by Sounds second baseman Shaun Skrehot in the bottom of that inning.

Nashville starter Cory Stewart, the Pirates' #9 prospect who will open the season as the Sounds' fourth starter, was extremely effective in his three innings of work, allowing only Sundstrom's single while fanning six Bruins batters.

The Sounds' bullpen worked four nearly-flawless innings behind Stewart. Dave Williams, Juan Acevedo, Mike Gonzalez, and Frank Brooks combined for four hitless innings and threw only four balls in their 33 cumulative pitches. Each reliever fanned one batter in his inning of work.

Acevedo picked up the victory for the Sounds by tossing a perfect fifth inning that included eight pitches, all for strikes, and one strikeout. Brooks came on to work a perfect seventh and earn the save.

Hobbs took the loss for Belmont after surrendering Martinez's home run. It was a déjà vu experience for the sophomore hurler; he gave up Sounds third baseman Mike Gulan's game-winning two-run homer in Nashville's 2-0 victory over the Bruins in last year's exhibition contest between the clubs.

The Sounds partake in their final preseason workout tomorrow afternoon at Greer Stadium before opening the 2004 Pacific Coast League season on Thursday evening with a 7 p.m. contests against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA-Rockies). Right-hander Nelson Figueroa, who finished 3rd among PCL hurlers in victories and strikeouts last season for the Sounds, gets the Opening Day start for Nashville and will face Colorado Springs right-hander Jason Young.

Tickets are available by calling 615-242-4371 or by ordering online at www.nashvillesounds.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 6, 2004


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