Papillion, NE – Eric Surkamp tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 3-1 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers Monday night at Werner Park.
With the win, the Sounds avoided back-to-back losses for the first time since May 5th and 6th and have the best record in the Pacific Coast League at 35-22.
Surkamp has been back-and-forth between Nashville and Oakland for the better part of the 2016 season. The 6 1/3 innings signaled the longest outing against any opponent since he tossed seven frames on April 29th against the Round Rock Express.
Matt Olson knocked in the first run of the game with an RBI groundout and Renato Nunez followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Sounds a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
Surkamp worked around several base runners in the first three innings, and then settled into a groove. When he retired Hunter Dozier to end the third, it started a streak of 11 Omaha batters retired in a row. With one out in the seventh, he walked Travis Snider before being lifted by Manager Steve Scarsone.
Aaron Kurcz was summoned from the bullpen and worked around an error by shortstop Chad Pinder and an infield single. With two outs and the bases loaded, he got Christian Colon to bounce out to Pinder to end the inning.
Omaha got on the board in the eighth when Hunter Dozier and Irving Falu came up with back-to-back two-out hits. Falu’s RBI single off J.B. Wendelken trimmed the Sounds’ lead to 3-1.
Tucker Healy worked the bottom of the ninth and worked around a one-out walk to earn his third save of the season.
The series finale is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at Werner Park. Right-hander Chris Smith (3-5, 4.24) starts for the Sounds against left-hander Jonathan Dziedzic (1-5, 5.43) for the Storm Chasers. First pitch is set for 12:05pm.
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
