The Nashville Sounds (53-55) declawed the Fresno Grizzlies (63-46) 5-2 Wednesday night from First Tennessee Park. With the defeat, Fresno dropped to 19-9 in the first game of a series (10-4 at home, 9-5 on the road). They also fell to 5-7 in three-run affairs and 15-7 versus the American
The Nashville Sounds (53-55) declawed the Fresno Grizzlies (63-46) 5-2 Wednesday night from First Tennessee Park. With the defeat, Fresno dropped to 19-9 in the first game of a series (10-4 at home, 9-5 on the road). They also fell to 5-7 in three-run affairs and 15-7 versus the American conference.
Nashville lefty Eric Jokisch (4-9) enjoyed the victory after allowing a pair of runs in six innings. He scattered nine hits and two walks while striking out seven. On the other hand, Grizzlies starter Cy Sneed (9-6) suffered the decision. He was charged with three runs (earned), on five hits, five walks and four punchouts in five frames.
Boog Powell provided the Sounds with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after lacing a single to center, plating Steve Lombardozzi (2-for-3).
Nick Tanielu (2-for-4) propelled Fresno to a 2-1 advantage in the top of the fourth when he launched a two-run shot to left field, which barely got over the glove of a leaping Ramón Laureano. It was his third big fly of the season.
Nashville inched out to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Laureano crushed a solo homer to left field. His 14th dinger of the year knotted the score at two. Then, a sacrifice fly to left-center by J.P. Sportman knocked in Lombardozzi. Four consecutive two-out singles in the home half of the sixth made it 5-2 Sounds. Both Beau Taylor and Anthony García were rewarded with RBI.
That would be enough for Raúl Alcántara to notch his fourth save of 2018. He tossed three scoreless innings, fanning five.
Grizzlies reliever Matt Ramsey returned from the disabled list in style, hurling one and one-third shutout innings. He followed Cionel Pérez, who chucked two-thirds of a frame in his Triple-A debut. Garrett Stubbs added four singles on the night, recording his second four-hit game of the year. Tanielu's two hits were both for extra-bases (double, wallop). AJ Reed extended his season-best hit streak to seven games with an infield single in the ninth. That is also a current team-high streak.
Both squads continue the set with the middle game of three Thursday evening from First Tennessee Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PT. Fresno RHP Rogelio Armenteros (7-1, 3.96) and Nashville righty James Naile (6-10, 4.74) are the probable matchup.
