Nashville Sounds lose to Oklahoma RedHawks 9-1

Oklahoma City, OK – The Nashville Sounds could not keep pace with the Oklahoma City RedHawks Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, losing the series finale by the score of 9-1.

The loss gives the RedHawks the four-game series sweep; the first allowed by Nashville since the RedHawks did so nearly one year ago at the end of May.

The 1-0 lead, Nashville’s first since a 7-1 advantage before losing in the series opener on Monday, was short-lived as the RedHawks collected three runs in bottom of the inning against Sounds starting pitcher Zach Kroenke (0-4).

The lefty put runners on the corners with no outs before Jonathan Villar hit a double to make it 2-1, Oklahoma City. Villar stole third and scored on a Kroenke balk. The Sounds never answered, charging the loss to Kroenke, who was on three days’ rest and finished with four runs on six hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

The RedHawks added another run in the fifth inning with back-to-back triples into right field from Jake Elmore and Jimmy Paredes. Reliever Jesus Sanchez entered the game in between triples, but could not keep the frame clean, letting Kroenke’s runner through to make it 4-1.

Sanchez stayed in to pitch 1 2/3 innings for the Sounds and let up one run off the hot bat of Villar. The RedHawks shortstop belted one of Sanchez’s pitches off the foul pole in right field for a lead-off home run in the sixth inning. Villar, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs and a triple shy of the cycle.

The RedHawks’ biggest inning came in the seventh, putting up four runs on Sounds reliever Johnnie Lowe. Villar and Carlos Perez each produced two-run singles with the bases loaded. Lowe allowed three hits and three walks in the inning.

Chris Jakubauskas and Rob Wooten combined to pitch a scoreless eighth, but Jakubauskas left the game after one strikeout due to leg discomfort on the mound.

After spending the first part of the season with the parent club Milwaukee Brewers, outfielder Khris Davis made his return to Nashville, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on the night. Davis hit .310 (35-for-113) for the Sounds in 2012.

The Sounds loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth on two hits and a walk, but failed to plate any runs as Davis hit into a fielder’s choice to put the runner out at home and Morris grounded into a double play.

The Sounds begin a new four-game series on Friday night, heading to Texas to face the Round Rock Express. RHP Mike Fiers (0-1, 0.82) gets the start for Nashville, opposite lefty Brad Mills (3-0, 2.81). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Tuesday, May 7th, as the Sounds host the Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-Giants).

Box Score