Sounds Win Streak Snapped With 7-4 Loss
Published on May 1, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds had their season-best five-game winning streak come to a close with a 7-4 defeat at the hands of the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Monday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.
The visiting I-Cubs scored six of their seven runs in the contest with two outs in an inning as the first-place Sounds fell to 16-8 on the year.
Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning against Sounds starter Jared Fernandez. Buck Coats led off with a single and scored the game's first run on a two-out RBI double by Brandon Sing, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Cubs.
The visitors upped the advantage to 3-0 in the fifth with two more two-out runs. Catcher Geovany Soto (3-for-4) opened the frame with a single, was sacrificed to second, and later scored on a two-out two-bagger off the bat of Ryan Theriot. The second run came across when Coats struck out swinging but reached on a passed ball by Nashville catcher Mike Rivera. Theriot came plateward on the throw to first to score unearned.
The Cubs scored for the third straight inning in the sixth, taking a 4-0 lead on Soto's one-out RBI single to right.
Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell put the home team on the board in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out, two-run homer to left off Iowa starter Les Walrond. Barnwell has homered in three straight games for the Sounds and has three roundtrippers on the year. The infielder hit just three home runs in 100 games with Nashville last season.
Nashville pulled within a run at 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth when Tony Gwynn, who opened the inning with a pinch-hit single, scored on a Kerry Ligtenberg wild pitch.
The Cubs put the game out of reach with three two-out runs in the top of the ninth inning against Sounds reliever Mike Adams. A two-run Sing homer to left-center, his third of the year, highlighted the outburst.
Rivera extended his PCL-leading hitting streak to 14 games with a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth. The Sounds rallied to load the bases when Vinny Rottino and Barnwell drew consecutive walks from Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz before Enrique Cruz grounded into an RBI forceout to make it a 7-4 game. Wuertz recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Brad Nelson and retired Brent Abernathy on a groundout to end the game and escape the jam.
Chicago Cubs top prospect Felix Pie went 0-for-5 at the plate but contributed two outfield assists, initiating two of the season-best three double plays turned against the Sounds.
Walrond (3-1) earned the victory after allowing two runs on five hits over seven frames. Fernandez (1-1) took the loss in his first start of the season after allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings.
The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday at Greer. Left-hander Justin Thompson (1-0, 5.65) takes the hill for the Sounds to face Iowa southpaw Raul Valdes (1-1, 7.13).
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 1, 2006
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- 'Birds Roll by Zephyrs - Memphis Redbirds
- Z's fall to Memphis - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Win Streak Snapped With 7-4 Loss - Nashville Sounds
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- Cust named PCL Player of the Week - Portland Beavers
- Cust's hot bat makes him week's top performer - PCL1
- Tonight's Game Included in Fireworks Plus Plan - Round Rock Express
- Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sidewinders come from behind to take series and game, 6-4 - Tucson Sidewinders
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