Sounds' Win Streak Snapped With 11-2 Loss
April 26, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE -- After outscoring the Oklahoma RedHawks 14-5 in the previous two games of the series, the Nashville Sounds surrendered 12 hits and gave up 11 runs as they dropped their first game in the last five outings, 11-2, on Monday night at Greer Stadium.
Oklahoma's Pete Zoccolillo opened up the game's scoring when he belted a solo home run off Nashville starter John VanBenschoten in the top of the second inning to give the RedHawks an early 1-0 lead. Manny Alexander doubled in Jason Conti with one out in the top of the fourth to make the score 2-0.
Things fell apart for the Sounds bullpen in the top of the seventh as they allowed the RedHawks to post seven runs. Jeff Pickler began the inning's onslaught, scoring off a fielder's choice, and then ended the inning's scoring, belting a bases-loaded double off Sounds reliever Justin Reid to knock in Zoccolillo, Manny Alexander, and Santiago Perez and give Oklahoma a stout 9-0 lead. The seven runs in the seventh inning were the most that Nashville has surrendered in an inning thus far in 2004.
RedHawks centerfielder Ramon Nivar belted his first homer of the year off Reid in the top of the eighth to score the final two runs of the evening for Oklahoma and make the score 11-0.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Sounds finally broke through to end the Oklahoma shutout bid. Ruben Mateo shellacked a Brad Clontz pitch well over the left field fence to make the score 11-1. The roundtripper, Mateo's team-leading seventh of the year, marked the 14th straight game that the Sounds have homered.
Later in the inning, Luis Figueroa â who went 3-for-4 for the second straight game â doubled in Tony Alvarez to score the final run of the game. It was the first time all year that the Sounds have lost a game when scoring the final run of the evening (7-1 in those situations).
Juan Dominguez (1-1), the Texas Rangers 4th rated prospect, won his first game of the season for the RedHawks by fanning seven Sounds over six scoreless frames, while VanBenschoten (0-3), the Pirates No. 1 prospect, lost his third straight decision after giving up two earned runs over 6.0 innings.
The Sounds and RedHawks play the finale of the four-game set at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at Greer Stadium. Oklahoma will start right-hander Nick Regilio (3-0, 0.54) and Nashville will send southpaw Cory Stewart (1-0, 2.65) to the mound to face off against him.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2004
- Paint it black - Edmonton Trappers
- Sounds' Win Streak Snapped With 11-2 Loss - Nashville Sounds
- Trappers make six roster moves - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers Sweeney named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Portland Beavers
- Valentino Pascucci, Brian Sweeney Win PCL Player of the Week Honors - PCL1
- John Grisham To Appear At Greer Stadium On Tuesday - Nashville Sounds
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