Zephyrs Avoid Sweep, Hand Sounds 10-2 Loss
April 16, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Nashville Sounds News Release
METAIRIE, La. - After being on the receiving end of a double-digit scoring output the previous two nights, the New Orleans Zephyrs exacted a little revenge on Nashville on Monday evening at Zephyr Field, handing the Sounds a 10-2 loss in the finale of a four-game series.
The loss, the Sounds' worst margin of defeat of the young season, snapped a five-game winning streak for Nashville (6-5) and allowed the Z's to avoid a series sweep.
New Orleans right-hander Phillip Humber (2-1) picked up his second victory in two starts against the Sounds this season after holding Nashville to one run on five hits over six innings.
Nashville starter R.A. Dickey (0-2) gave up 10 runs on 11 hits, including three home runs, over five innings of work in his second consecutive losing start. The right-hander's ERA rose to 11.70 on the year.
Every Zephyrs starting position player had recorded a hit and scored a run by the end of the fifth inning. Outfielder Carlos Gomez, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games, and veteran catcher Mike DiFelice paced New Orleans with three hits apiece.
Nashville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third the old-fashioned way. Chris Barnwell opened the frame with a walk, stole second, was sacrificed to third by Dickey, and scored on a Jose Macias RBI groundout.
New Orleans quickly responded in the bottom of the frame, exploding for six runs against Dickey. Fernando Tatis and DiFelice opened the inning with consecutive doubles to tie the score. Ruben Gotay blasted the home club into the lead with a two-out, two-run homer to right-center that made it a 3-1 game. The two-out rally continued later in the frame when Andy Tracy pulled into a tie for the PCL home run lead with his fifth roundtripper of the year, a three-run shot to center that increased the Z's lead to five.
The Zephyrs added their third two-out longball of the night in the fourth when Anderson Hernandez touched Dickey for a two-run blast to right that extended the lead to 8-1. It was the infielder's first homer of the season.
The home team concluded its scoring in the fifth when DiFelice ripped a two-run double to center against Dickey.
Macias drove in his second run of the evening for Nashville in the top of the seventh against Z's reliever Steve Schmoll, plating Mike Rivera (2-for-3) with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to bring the score to its final 10-2.
Schmoll allowed one run over the final three innings of action to pick up his first save for New Orleans.
Steve Bray, Chris Spurling, and Dennis Sarfate each worked a scoreless inning from the hill for the Sounds following Dickey's departure.
Third baseman Ryan Braun went 1-for-4 on the evening to extend Nashville's longest hit streak of the young season to six games.
The Sounds continue their first road trip of the season tomorrow in Oklahoma City, where they'll meet the RedHawks in the 7:05 p.m. opener of a four-game series.
Right-hander Tim Dillard (0-0, 2.38) makes his third start of the year for Nashville in search of his first career Triple-A victory. Oklahoma will counter with right-hander Mike Wood (0-0, 0.00).
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 16, 2007
- Zephyrs top Sounds, 10-2 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Zephyrs Avoid Sweep, Hand Sounds 10-2 Loss - Nashville Sounds
- Randy Johnson Scheduled To Make Second Start For Tucson Thursday - Tucson Sidewinders
- Lincecum Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Fresno Grizzlies
- Portland rallies from 3-0 deficit for afternoon victory - Portland Beavers
- Redbirds Avoid Sweep - Oklahoma City Comets
- 'Topes let lead slip away, fall 9-5 to Omaha - Albuquerque Isotopes
- PCL names players of the week - PCL1
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
