Nashville Sounds Baseball
Dodgers Battle Back Twice, Sounds Get Final Laugh
Oklahoma City, OK – Despite squandering a five-run lead in the seventh inning and blowing a save situation in the ninth inning, the Nashville Sounds (4-2) found a way to emerge victorious (7-6) over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (4-2) in 10 innings.
Chris Bassitt (0-0, 4.76 ERA) was the story early on. The Sounds’ highest rated prospect (5th in the Athletics organization according to Baseball America) had everything going on Tuesday night, mixing in a 97 MPH fastball with devastating off-speed stuff.
Heading to the seventh inning, the 6’5″ right-handed pitcher had struck out eight batters and surrendered just one hit. The Sounds led 5-0.
De La Rosa walked the first two batters he faced, the second of which forced in a run. He induced a groundball to Andy Parrino, who booted it and it became 5-2. Both runs were charged to Bassitt. De La Rosa then hit the next batter, Darnell Sweeney, to force in another run.
Ryan Cook came into the game trying to eliminate the bases loaded threat and ran into some bad luck.
He got Scott Schebler to hit a bouncer at Max Muncy who could not decide whether he should play the ball or let it roll foul. He crossed himself up and let the ball hit himself in fair territory, yet another run scored.
The next batter, Enrique Hernandez, hit a chopper to Muncy who threw to second for the force out. Elliot Johnson came home to tie the game. Cook would strike out Kyle Jensen to end the frame. The final damage, five runs on just two hits.
The Sounds would take a page out of the Dodgers playbook in the 8th inning.
Tyler Ladendorf (3-for-5) and Alden Carrithers (2-for-5) would lead off the inning with back-to-back singles. Niuman Romero then attempted a sacrifice bunt but popped up to the pitcher. The Sounds catalyst, Billy Burns (4-for-5, 2 SB), drew a walk to load the bases. Max Muncy (1-for-3) stepped to the plate following an Andy Parrino strikeout. The always patient Muncy drew a four-pitch walk and the Sounds reclaimed the lead 6-5.
Fernando Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning setting the stage for Sounds closer Chad Smith in the ninth. Smith recorded two quick outs before letting Sweeney get away from him. Schebler then hit a gapper in the left-center hole, Sweeney held at third as Burns tracked the ball down too quickly for the Dodgers center fielder to test it.
The decision paid off for the Dodgers, as Smith threw a wild pitch. Sweeney came home and the game headed to extra innings.
Smith came back out for the tenth and retired the side, picking up his first win. Rudy Owens, who spent 2015 Spring Training in Athletics MLB camp before being traded to Los Angeles (NL) on April 4th, was the losing pitcher.
The Sounds and Dodgers will play game three of their four-game series tomorrow at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The Sounds will send Barry Zito (0-0, 5-79 ERA) to the mound while the Sky Sox will counter with Carlos Frias. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.
