Colorado Springs, CO – The Nashville Sounds held off a late Colorado Springs rally for a 5-4 win Thursday night at Security Service Field.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Sounds reliever Eduard Santos worked himself out of a jam. Santos got Sky Sox Andrew Susac to hit a ground ball to Chad Pinder who stepped on second to preserve the 5-4 Sounds win.
J.B. Wendelken started the Sounds ninth as he came on with two outs in the eighth inning to replace Angel Castro as the Sounds lead 5-2. Josmil Pinto led off the ninth with a walk to start the Sky Sox rally. Wendelken then settled himself and promptly struck out the next two batters in Michael Reed and Yadiel Rivera.
Santos was then summoned from the Sounds bullpen to try to record the final out. Santos walked Garret Cooper to load the bases and eventually got Susac to hit the ball to Pinder to end the game.
Sounds starter Jharel Cotton who was recently acquired as part of the trade that sent Josh Reddick and Rich Hill to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for three prospects dominated in his Sounds debut. The right-hander scattered six hits over six innings and gave up just one run on a Michael Reed fifth inning home run.
Cotton picked up his ninth win of the season in his Sounds debut as he struck out five Sky Sox.
The Sounds got out to an early lead thanks to a two-run double from Renato Nunez in the second inning. Back-to-back singles from Matt Olson and Brett Eibner set the table for Nunez’s 58th and 59th RBI of the season. Nunez quickly added to his season RBI total again in the fourth inning as he launched a two-run home run to left to put the Sounds on top 4-0. The home run was the 22-year-olds 18th of the season.
Reed put the only damper on Cotton’s stellar Sounds debut when he sent a solo home run to left field to put the Sky Sox on the board as they trailed 4-1 after five.
With two outs in the seventh inning, the Sounds loaded the bases after Sky Sox reliever Michael Kirkman took over for Drew Gagnon. With Matt McBride already on first with a lead-off singe, Jaycob Brugman then singled as well to put runners at first and second. Chad Pinder then walked to load the bases for Matt Olson.
With Olson batting, a wild pitch from Kirkman allowed McBride to score from third to give the Sounds a 5-1 lead.
Cotton’s night was done with a 5-1 lead in hand as Ryan Brasier took over and struck out the side in order in the seventh.
The win keeps the Sounds division lead at 10 games with just 31 games left to play in the season.
Game three of the series is set for Friday night at Security Service Field. Left-hander Ross Detwiler (3-0, 2.60) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Wily Peralta (1-3, 6.34) for the Sky Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05pm CST.
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
