Nashville Sounds hold off late rally to beat New Orleans Zephyrs 8-5

Nashville Starter Johnny Hellweg Logs Six Shutout Innings For Eighth Victory

Metairie, LA – The Nashville Sounds topped the New Orleans Zephyrs Saturday night at Zephyr Field by a 8-5 margin, guided by Johnny Hellweg’s impressive return start and offensive fireworks from Robinzon Diaz.

Hellweg (8-4) made his first start for Nashville since June 22 a good one, logging six innings of shutout baseball for his eighth quality start of the season. The 6-foot-9 hurler limited the Z’s to two hits on a team season-high 108 pitches, walking four and striking out six.

Offensively, the Sounds scored first in the game using three hits and a walk in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Zephyrs. Outfielder Khris Davis reached base with a single and scored on Anderson De La Rosa’s base knock into right-center field. Following a wild pitch that moved De La Rosa to second, Cole Garner hit into shallow centerfield for an RBI.

De La Rosa, 2-for-5, added to the Sounds lead with a double into left field which scored Hunter Morris from second.

In the following inning, third baseman Robinzon Diaz doubled the Sounds’ lead with one swing of the bat, connecting for a home run to centerfield to make it 6-0. The homer scored Josh Prince and Scooter Gennett, who both singled to start the fifth.

The Z’s picked up a pair of runs with two outs in the seventh inning. Reliever Travis Webb walked Kyle Jensen and then allowed an RBI-double to Gorkys Hernandez. Tim Dillard entered to pick up the final out, but not before Chris Valaika hit a double down the left-field line to make it 6-2.

The Sounds took back their six-run lead in the ninth inning with a two-run double from Kentrail Davis that scored Gennett, 2-for-5, and Hainley Statia, 1-for-1.

Zach Kroenke, Michael Olmsted and Rob Wooten also saw work on the hill for Nashville. Kroenke worked a scoreless eighth inning, before giving way to Olmsted, who let up a three-run homer in the ninth to Hernandez. Wooten entered with one out in the ninth to finish the game.

New Orleans’ Duane Below (5-4) was charged with the loss, allowing Nashville three runs on five hits over four innings of work.

The Sounds will look to win the four-game series with New Orleans Sunday night at Zephyr Field. Throwing for Nashville will be RHP Jimmy Nelson (1-3, 3.62) opposite the Z’s RHP Jay Jackson (1-0, 0.00).

Baseball returns to Nashville on Monday, July 22nd, for Peanut Free Night at Greer, presented by the Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center.

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