Multiple Late Leads Not Enough
Colorado Springs, CO – The Colorado Springs Sky Sox sent the Nashville Sounds to a heart-breaking 8-7 loss in walk-off fashion Friday night at Security Service Field.
Multiple late leads were not enough for the Sounds as Manny Pina’s one-out single in the ninth scored Michael Reed with the winning run.
The Sounds held a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning, and then went up 7-5 in the top of the ninth only to see both leads vanish.
Max Muncy belted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to break a 5-5 tie.
The two-run lead didn’t last long as Angel Castro’s trouble started right away in the bottom of the ninth. Yosmil Pinto sent a single to the right side to start the rally.
Castro retired Keon Broxton for the first out of the inning, but then issued back-to-back walks to put the winning run at first base. That’s when Hernan Perez sent a fly ball down the right field line for a ground-rule double that evened the game at 7-7.
The Sounds turned to Ryan Brasier in favor of Castro. He delivered an intentional walk to Jake Elmore before Pina finished it with the game-winner to right.
The Sounds led for the greater part of eight innings. They plated three runs in the third, highlighted by Jake Smolinski’s two-run double off the left field wall. Up 4-1, Matt Olson belted his second home run of the season in the sixth to lengthen the lead.
Colorado Springs scored a single tally in the seventh, then three in the eighth off Nashville reliever Tucker Healy who came into the game with a 0.00 ERA in five games.
Left-hander Sean Manaea was in position to get to 3-0 before the bullpen faltered. The 24-year-old allowed just one run on six hits in six innings. He walked a pair and struck out four. Manaea has allowed one run in all three starts and has a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings.
The Sounds return home to First Tennessee Park to start a four-game homestand against the New Orleans Zephyrs on Saturday. Right-hander Chris Smith (0-2, 7.20) starts for Nashville against right-hander Ivan Pineyro (0-2, 4.09) for New Orleans. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling 615.690.4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com
