Nashville Sounds fall 9-6 to New Orleans Zephyrs at First Tennessee Park

Nashville Sounds Baseball

Nashville, TN – Nashville struck first but the New Orleans’ bats responded, swiftly defeating the home team 9-6 at First Tennessee Park on Sunday night.

With Sounds primary leadoff hitter Craig Gentry given the night off, Joey Wendle stepped into the tone-setter role in the first inning and performed admirably, tripling to start the game.

Next batter Andy Parrino drove Wendle in and the next two batters – Ryan Roberts and Jason Pridie – followed suit loading the bases with no outs. Parrino then scored on a wild pitch and the other runners moved into scoring position. Roberts would score on a Dayan Viciedo sacrifice fly and the Sounds led 3-0 after one.

That lead would not hold however, as New Orleans batted around in the fourth inning springing for five runs off Nashville starter Nate Long (2-3), ending his day after 3 2/3 innings pitched. Aaron Kurcz came in out of the Nashville ‘pen to retire the final out of the frame.

Isaac Galloway continued to be a thorn in Nashville’s side collecting a two-out, two-run single off Kurcz the following inning. The outfielder entered the series hitting just .235 this season, but has at least one hit and one RBI in each of the three games (5-for-12, 6 RBI) in the series.

Phil Coke relieved Kurcz pitching a scoreless sixth before surrendering an RBI single to Jhonatan Solano in the 7th inning. Galloway then came around to score on a wild pitch by Coke, extending the New Orleans lead to 9-3.

Nate Freiman attempted to spark some momentum for the Sounds, leading off the 7th with a solo homer off former Sounds pitcher Chris Narveson. Two batters later, Wendle hit a ground-rule double. He then scored when an innocuous fly ball off the bat of Roberts fell between the Zephyrs second baseman and right fielder.

Carson Blair duplicated Freiman’s effort to start the ninth inning, taking Lay Batista’s offering over the wall in left to make the game 9-6. Nashville could not capitalize on the momentum however, falling by the same score.

Looking to avoid the sweep, the Sounds will send Barry Zito (6-7, 3.54) to the mound Monday Night, July 27th. He will be opposed by impressive Miami Marlins’ prospect Jose Urena (6-1, 2.44). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.