PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Two Nelson Homers Not Enough In 12-11 Loss

Published on April 24, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


OMAHA - The Nashville Sounds gave up two late runs and dropped their series opener in Omaha, falling 12-11 on Thursday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Offense was the name of the game throughout the evening as the clubs combined for seven home runs and each team posted a seven-run inning in the contest.

For the second straight game, the Sounds used the longball to fuel their offensive attack, matching their season high with four roundtrippers including two by first baseman Brad Nelson.

Nelson, who leads the club with six taters this season, finished 3-for-5 with a Nashville season-high five RBIs in the contest.

With the loss, Nashville (4-16) fell to 0-14 in night games, 0-6 in series openers, and 0-8 in games decided by one or two runs this season.

The Sounds scored in the top of the first inning for the fifth straight game, taking an early 3-0 lead against Royals starter Tyler Lumsden. Outfielder Mike Cameron (1-for-4) fought off a pair of two-strike pitches before belting a home run in his first at-bat of the 2008 season, a solo shot to deep left. After a Joe Dillon walk, Nelson hit the first of his two longballs, a two-run shot to center that increased the visitors' lead to three.

After Nashville added a run in the third, Omaha rallied for seven runs in the home half of the frame to grab a 7-4 advantage and send Sounds starter Nic Ungs to the showers. The Royals sent 10 men to the plate in the frame and recorded six hits against the right-hander, including home runs off the bats of Damon Hollins and Mike Stodolka.

Ungs, who surrendered seven runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings, failed to reach the end of the third inning for the second consecutive outing. He lasted only 1 2/3 frames in his previous outing on Saturday at Albuquerque.

The Sounds responded with seven runs of their own in the top of the fourth, sending 10 men to the plate and chasing Lumsden. A three-run Nelson homer and a two-run Brendan Katin big fly highlighted the outburst. Lumsden exited with a no-decision after giving up nine runs on nine hits in only 3 1/3 innings of action.

Omaha scored three runs over the next two frames against Sounds reliever Tim Dillard to pull within a run at 11-10 at the conclusion of the fifth inning. Two of those runs were unearned due to a fielding error by shortstop Abraham Nunez.

The Royals' bullpen slowed down the Nashville bats after the fourth inning, combining to allow only two baserunners over the final five frames and did not allow a runner into scoring position after Ozzie Chavez was stranded at second following a leadoff double in the fifth.

Omaha left fielder Chris Lubanski (3-for-4) put the home team in front with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the seventh, drilling a 3-2 Steve Bray offering over the wall in right for a two-run homer that gave the Royals a 12-11 lead. Bray has given up five home runs in his 8.0 innings of work this season and carries a 12.38 ERA.

Sounds designated hitter Russell Branyan went 0-for-5 in the contest to snap his eight-game hitting streak, which matched the club's longest of the year.

Royals reliever Chin-hui Tsao (1-0) was the beneficiary of the last Omaha comeback and earned the win following two scoreless innings of work.

Neal Musser kept the Sounds off the board in the ninth to notch his fourth save of the year.

Bray (0-2), who has allowed a run in each of his last four outings, took the loss after surrendering the game-deciding home run in his 1 1/3 frames and suffering his second blown save of the year.

The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. meeting. Left-hander Zach Jackson (1-3, 7.04) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Omaha right-hander Matt Wright (0-1, 5.40).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 24, 2008


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