PCL1 Nashville Sounds

Unearned Run In Tenth Gives Cubs 3-2 Win

Published on June 3, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An RBI infield single from Felix Pie in the top of the tenth inning netted an unearned run and let the Iowa Cubs squeeze by the Nashville Sounds, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Greer Stadium.

It was the second extra-inning affair of the four-game series between the division foes, with Nashville on the losing end in both contests. A string of 14 consecutive Sounds batters were retired in a row to end the game as Cubs relievers combining to pitch seven innings of one-run ball.

Nashville (24-34) dropped three of four games in the series to the division-leading Cubs.

Sam Narron pitched his best outing so far this season for the Sounds, giving up only two runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings but did not factor in the decision. It was the longest start by a Nashville hurler in 2008.

Iowa starter J.R. Mathes matched Narron until he was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a groin injury. He threw three scoreless innings while striking out two batters but gave up two singles in the fourth inning before handing the ball over to reliever Mike Burns.

Burns was unable to strand the inherited runners as Adam Heether knocked an RBI single to left field that scored Callix Crabbe from third base to plate the first run of the game. Crabbe had led off with a single, and Brad Nelson followed with another single before being thrown out at home on Heether's hit.

Nelson redeemed himself in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run-scoring double to left field that brought Tony Gwynn around to score from second base for Nashville. With his 2-for-4 night, Nelson is batting .371 with eight RBIs in his last 10 games.

Narron kept the Cubs off the board until Jason Dubois crushed a two-run home run over the left field wall in the top of the seventh to even up the score for Iowa. It was Dubois's eighth on the year, and Matt Murton scored on the longball after doubling earlier in the inning.

Iowa finally forced Narron out of the game in the middle of the eighth inning when he gave up a single to Koyie Hill and a walk to pinch-hitter Bobby Scales. Narron turned the ball over to Mitch Stetter who promptly struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Steve Bray then pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give the Sounds hitters a chance, but Nashville was unable to get on the board, forcing the game into extra innings.

Bray gave up a two-out double to Eric Patterson in the top of the 10th inning and Patterson advanced to third on the play due to a fielding error from right fielder Laynce Nix, the Sounds' first error in their last seven games. Zach Jackson came in to relieve Bray and gave up an infield single to Pie to score Patterson from third. The run was unearned but charged to Bray, spoiling an otherwise solid night for Sounds pitchers.

Jim Brower (1-0) earned the win for Iowa after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings to end the game, and Bray (0-4) was tabbed with the loss for Nashville.

The entire PCL will enjoy a day off tomorrow before the Sounds return to action at Greer Stadium on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. against the Albuquerque Isotopes in the opener of a four-game series. Right-hander Derrick Turnbow (1-0, 10.13) will man the bump for the Sounds against righty Frankie De La Cruz (6-2, 4.53) for the Isotopes.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 3, 2008


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