PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Sounds Win Homestand Opener, 2-1

August 25, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds kicked off their final homestand with a 2-1 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a five-game series.

Tim Dillard turned in an outstanding effort for the second straight start for Nashville, twirling seven innings of scoreless, three-hit ball, but took a no-decision as the Sounds' bullpen was unable to protect his 1-0 lead in the late innings.

Dillard, who has given up only one run over 15.0 innings in his last two outings, is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA (11er/34.2ip) in six starts for Nashville this season.

The victory was the Sounds' sixth in eight meetings versus New Orleans this season and the seventh win in the last 10 games overall for Nashville (69-62).

Sounds right fielder Brendan Katin (2-for-3) spotted the home team a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a one-out, opposite-field solo homer to right. The blast, which came against New Orleans starter Wes Whisler, was the slugger's 19th roundtripper of the season.

In the top of the eighth, New Orleans took immediate advantage of Dillard's departure by tying the game at 1-1 against Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter. The Z's loaded the bases as the first three runners reached bases before Mike Lamb blooped an RBI single to shallow right-center to bring home Scott Cousins with the tying run.

The Sounds escaped the no-out, bases-loaded jam with no further damage. Stetter struck out Mark Saccomanno and Danny Richar in succession before Donovan Hand was summoned to the mound. With Brett Carroll at the plate, the right-hander's 0-2 offering was in the dirt and briefly skirted Sounds catcher Martin Maldonado but the backstop recovered to toss to Hand to retire Bryan Petersen at the dish on a bang-bang play for the third out.

Nashville pulled back in front in the bottom of the eighth with a run against Z's reliever Dan Meyer (1-2) as the left-hander hurt his own cause with inaccuracy on the hill. With one out, Erick Almonte drew a walk then Katin was hit by a pitch. After a Meyer wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Luis Cruz lined a sacrifice fly to left to plate Almonte with the go-ahead run.

Brandon Kintzler retired the Zephyrs in order in the top of the ninth to preserve the lead and notch his fifth save of the year for Nashville.

Hand (2-0) was handed the victory following his three-pitch relief effort for the Sounds.

Whisler matched Dillard's solid start with one of his own for New Orleans, limiting the Sounds to one run on six hits over seven innings in a no-decision.

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. matchup on Thursday. Left-hander Chase Wright (7-8, 4.95) will toe the rubber for the Sounds and face New Orleans southpaw James Houser (0-1, 3.60).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 25, 2010


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