Nashville Extends Season-Long Winning Streak to Five Games
Nashville, TN – Jake Smolinski hit a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning and Chad Pinder had a perfect night to guide the Nashville Sounds to a thrilling 6-5 win over the Sacramento River Cats in front of 7,407 fans Thursday night at First Tennessee Park.
With the scored tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Smolinski hit the third pitch of the inning from Steven Okert over the center field wall to give the Sounds (21-19) a 6-5 lead.
The blast came just moments after the River Cats (16-25) plated two runs on three consecutive two-out hits in the top of the inning to even the game.
Their lead didn’t last long as the Sounds scored three runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Rangel Ravelo and Pinder were on base when Renato Nunez smashed a double off the center field wall to score two. Smolinski followed with his own two-bagger to the gap in right-center to make it 3-1.
Sacramento scored runs off Nashville starter Eric Surkamp in the fourth and fifth innings to even the game at 3-3. Jarrett Parker belted a solo homer in the fourth and Mitch Delfino doubled in a run in the fifth.
It remained tied until Pinder came through with his fourth hit of the night in the seventh. With Ravelo at third and Joey Wendle at second following a double, Pinder lined a base hit to left field to score both runners giving the Sounds a 5-3 lead.
Sacramento bounced back with two-out magic of their own. Parker, Williamson and Grant Green produced three straight hits off Aaron Kurcz to square the game at 5-5.
Kurcz struck out Miguel Olivo to end the inning and escape the jam without further damage.
That set up Smolinski who wasted little time getting the lead back for Nashville. It was the third home run of the season for Smolinski who finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs knocked in. Pinder finished 4-for-4 – his second four-hit game of the homestand.
Kurcz picked up the win in relief and Steve Okert was charged with the loss. Tucker Healy worked a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Game two of the four-game series is set for Friday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-0, 0.45) starts for Nashville against right-hander Chris Heston (0-3, 4.94) for Sacramento. 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
