Nashville Edges Round Rock 4-2 to Even Series

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Nashville Sounds (21-31) topped the Round Rock Express (31-21) by a final score of 4-2 in Tuesday night's contest at First Tennessee Park. The home side foiled a pair of late comeback attempts to even the five-game series at two apiece.
Round Rock starter RHP Akeem Bostick (3-2, 5.26) suffered the loss after giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, on a total of four hits and three walks in 3.2 innings. The righty struck out five on the night. On the winning side, Nashville starter RHP Seth Maness (3-1, 4.19) continued his recent success against Round Rock, holding the E-Train to two runs on seven hits in 6.1 frames. Sounds RHP David Carpenter picked up his seventh save of the year with 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Both teams traded runs in the third inning to open the scoring. E-Train 3B Taylor Jones got the party started with a single before being erased at second base on a Jamie Ritchie fielder's choice. Three straight singles by 2B Anibal Sierra , SS Alex De Goti and LF Kyle Tucker put the Express on the board.
However, Nashville answered as LF Zack Granite singled before moving to second base on a Delino DeShields sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, 1B Matt Davidson reached first base safely as Bostick dropped a relay from 1B AJ Reed on a groundout, leaving time for Granite to race home with the game-tying run.
The Sounds carried their momentum into the fourth inning as 3B Patrick Wisdom and DH Hunter Cole each walked prior to a Carlos Tocci fielder's choice. On the play, Sierra committed a fielding error that allowed Wisdom to score. An ensuing Granite single tacked on another run to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
The two teams traded runs once again in the seventh. In the top half of the inning, Reed singled before racing to second on a Jones double. Ritchie then delivered with a sacrifice fly to trim the gap to 3-2.
However, the Sounds answered once more, scoring a run thanks to a Chase d'Arnaud walk followed by back-to-back singles by C Jett Bandy and Tocci.
The Express brought the game-tying run to the plate in each of the last two innings, but Carpenter worked around the pair of baserunners to preserve the 4-2 win for the Sounds.
Round Rock and Nashville meet for the final time in 2019 on Wednesday night with the E-Train leading the season series 8-7. Express LHP Ryan Hartman (5-1, 4.19) is scheduled to start opposite Sounds LHP Wes Benjamin (1-5, 7.88). First pitch at First Tennessee Park is set for 6:35 p.m.
For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation during our historic 20th season using #20STROng.