New Orleans, LA – Matt Chapman’s three-homer game wasn’t enough for the Nashville Sounds in a 6-5 loss to the New Orleans Zephyrs Saturday night at Zephyr Field.
Chapman hit a home run in each of his first three at bats to become the seventh player in Sounds (83-58) history to hit three in a single game. The 23-year-old has seven home runs in 17 games with the Sounds and 36 in 134 games between Nashville and Double-A Midland.
The last three-homer game by a Sounds player was Russell Branyan who also did it against New Orleans on May 16th, 2008. Others to accomplish the feat include Ryan Braun, Craig Wilson, Darnell Coles, Dan Pasqua and Steve Balboni.
New Orleans (68-70) came right back with three runs of their own against Nashville starter Angel Castro. Trailing 3-2 entering the top of the third, Chapman started the inning with his second blast of the night to even the game at 3-3.
The Zephyrs got home runs in the next two innings off Castro to take control. Matt Juengel drilled a two-run shot in the bottom of the third and Stephen McGree launched a solo homer to give New Orleans a 6-3 advantage.
Chapman was at it again in the fifth when he hit his third of the night. The solo shot to lead off the inning brought the deficit to 6-4. Chapman finished the night 4-for-5 with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. All three homers came off Wojciechowski who ended up with the win.
Nashville had a number of chances late in the game but only cashed in once. Franklin Barreto’s two-out, RBI single made it a 6-5 game in the eighth.
The bullpen combination of Colt Hynes, Carlos Navas and Aaron Kurcz tossed four scoreless innings to keep it close, but the Sounds went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position at the plate.
Castro allowed six runs in four innings and was tagged with his eighth loss of the season.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Sunday night in New Orleans. Right-hander Daniel Gossett (1-0, 2.57) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Dylan Axelrod (9-7, 4.31) for the Zephyrs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00pm.
Tickets for the 2016 Pacific Coast League playoff dates at First Tennessee Park are now available for purchase at the Nashville Sounds box office and online at www.nashvillesounds.com
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate.
