Storm Chasers even Series with Two Late Runs

July 23, 2016 |

Nashville, TN – The Omaha Storm Chasers scored two runs in the ninth inning thanks to shaky defense and a handful of walks and grabbed a 6-4 win over the Nashville Sounds in front of a sellout crowd of 10,072 Saturday night at First Tennessee Park.

After being no-hit for the first six innings, the Sounds (55-46) put together multiple rallies to even the game in the later innings only to come up short.

Former Sounds pitcher Nick Tepesch, who was designated for assignment by Oakland less than two weeks ago, started for Omaha (44-55) and stymied his former teammates.

Nashville Sounds Manage Just Three Hits in Setback.

With the Sounds trailing 3-0, Ladendorf moved from first to third on a pair of wild pitches by Tepesch. Bryan Anderson put Nashville’s first run on the board with an RBI groundout.

Omaha plated another run in the seventh thanks to a pair of wild pitches by Sounds starter Chris Smith.

Tepesch was lifted after six innings in favor of reliever Kevin McCarthy. Jaycob Brugman greeted McCarthy with a sharp single to left-center to break up the no-hit bid.

Chad Pinder followed with a hard groundball to second, but Ramon Torres’ throw to cut down Brugman at second sailed into left field. Brugman scored from first and Pinder took second on the error. Two batters later, Renato Nunez scored Pinder on a groundout to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Nashville reliever Aaron Kurcz delivered a scoreless eighth to keep the Sounds in striking distance. With one out and a runner at first in the bottom of the inning, Billy Burns legged out a fielder’s choice to keep the inning going.

On a 0-2 pitch, Burns took off on a pitch Brugman sent into right-center. After partially slowing around third base, Burns was able to score just ahead of the relay throw home.

The 4-4 game didn’t last long as Omaha took advantage of two errors and three walks in the top of the ninth. With runners and first and second, Raul Mondesi legged out an infield single. Nunez tried to make a barehanded play and bobbled the ball allowing the go-ahead run to cross.

J.B. Wendelken, who started the inning, intentionally walked Rey Fuentes to load the bases. The move backfired when Hunter Dozier worked a walk to force in another run to make it 6-4.

Game three of the four-game series is set for Sunday night at First Tennessee Park. Left-hander Dillon Overton (10-4, 2.98) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Christian Binford (1-8, 6.31) for the Storm Chasers. 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

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