Nashville Sounds’ Jeremy Hermida drives in winning run in the ninth for 2-1 victory over Reno Aces

Nashville Sounds Baseball

Nashville, TN – The Nashville Sounds walked off against the Reno Aces for the second straight night, recording a 2-1 triumph on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium.

Jeremy Hermida provided the game-winner for the first-place Sounds (36-30), driving home Elian Herrera with a one-out single to center in the bottom of the ninth off Aces reliever Joe Paterson. Herrera got things started in the frame with a one-out infield single then hustled to third on Hunter Morris’ single to right.

The contest began as a pitchers’ duel between the Sounds’ Ariel Pena and Reno’s Zeke Spruill. Both starting pitchers were on their game early as the teams combined to send the minimum number of batters to the plate in the first five innings.

Ariel Pena retired his first 17 batters faced before issuing a walk to opposing pitcher Zeke Spruill with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. The run of 17 consecutive retired hitters was one shy of the best by a Sounds hurler this year (Brad Mills).

Pena, who took a no-decision despite working his third quality start of the year, struck out a season-high nine batters in the contest. He allowed one run on two hits over 6 2/3 innings of work.

Jeff Bianchi (2-for-4) broke up the scoreless deadlock in the home half of the sixth when his one-out single through the left side of the infield plated Pete Orr, who had opened the frame with a bunt single.

Nashville had Spruill on the ropes in the frame, loading the bases with one out, but failed to push another run across as the Reno right-hander retired Herrera on a flyout before fanning Morris to escape the inning with only one run crossing the plate.

Pena carried his no-hit bid into the seventh inning before Reno rallied to knot the contest at 1-1 Alfredo Marte followed an inning-opening walk to Roger Kieschnick with a single to left. After Pena induced a pair of popups, Danny Dorn floated a single to shallow left-center to bring in Kieschnick with the tying run and chase the Nashville starter from the contest.

Reno attempted to take its first lead of the night in the ninth against Dustin Molleken. With runners on first and second and two outs, Mike Freeman singled to center and Kevin Mattison came up firing, gunning down Mike Jacobs by three steps at the plate to end the inning and keep the game tied.

Molleken (2-2) picked up the win following 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for Nashville.

The teams continue the series with another 7:05pm matchup on Wednesday at Greer. Milwaukee Brewers top prospect Jimmy Nelson (7-1, 1.51) will make the start for the Sounds and face Reno right-hander Mike Bolsinger (5-1, 2.74).

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