Link Report for Games of Thursday, June 11th

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 11, Memphis (Cardinals) 3

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for new Josh Butler photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Rout Redbirds In Series Opener

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds posted their highest scoring output of the year on Thursday evening at historic Greer Stadium, pounding the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds, 11-3, in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The first-place Sounds (35-26) extended their winning streak to four games with the triumph.

 

Josh Butler (1-1) picked up his first career Triple-A victory for the Sounds after allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five batters over five innings. Right fielder Brendan Katin drove in four runs and catcher Angel Salome went 3-for-5 on the evening to pace the Sounds' offense.

 

Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when catcher Bryan Anderson led off with a single and later scampered home on a Butler wild pitch. Nashville tied the contest in the home half of the frame when Katin scored on a Cole Gillespie sacrifice fly.

 

The Redbirds pulled back in front by a 2-1 margin in the fourth when shortstop Donovan Solano ripped a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield to bring home Shane Robinson, who had been hit by a Butler pitch after the first two batters of the frame were retired.

 

For the second time on the night, the Sounds answered a Memphis score in the top of a frame with a rally of their own in the bottom of the inning. Adam Heether walked, Salome singled, and Butler loaded the bags by reaching on a bunt single before center fielder Jason Bourgeois laced a two-run, go-ahead double to left off Redbirds starter Adam Ottavino that gave Nashville a 3-2 advantage.

 

The Sounds tacked on another run in the fifth when Heether opened the inning with a double and Salome followed with an RBI single to center, which chased Ottavino and extended the lead to 4-2.

 

Nashville second baseman Hernan Iribarren extended the club's longest hitting streak to nine games when his sixth-inning RBI single off Memphis reliever Matt Scherer plated Alcides Escobar. Katin continued his recent hot hitting when he delivered a two-out run-scoring single to left that made it a 6-2 game.

 

The Sounds put the game well out of reach by sending men to the plate during a five-run seventh inning against Redbirds Kat Maekawa. Gillespie opened the outburst with his third homer of the season, a solo shot to left before Katin wrapped up the Nashville scoring when he continued his big night with a bases-loaded, three-run double to left to extend the cushion to 11-2.

 

AUDIO: Katin Three-Run Double

 

Memphis closed out the scoring in the ninth when Solano singled home Mark Shorey with a single off Nashville reliever Wes Littleton.

 

Ottavino (0-8) dropped his eighth consecutive decision to open the year as he took the loss for Memphis after giving up four runs (three earned) in his 4 2/3 frames of action.

 

The teams continue the series with a 7:00 PM contest on Friday evening. Left-hander Chris Cody (0-1, 1.42) will make the start for Nashville in search of his first career Triple-A win. Memphis will counter with right-hander Mitchell Boggs (2-1, 4.50).

 

It will be another Purity Faith Night at the ballpark, featuring a pre-game concert by Christian recording artist Revive in the back parking lot. A spectacular fireworks show will follow the game.

 

Nashville Box Score

Chris Narveson still shining in his relief role -- two scoreless middle relief innings here; Alcides Escobar steals two bases -- now 24-for-29; Jason Bourgeois a big game, two doubles, a walk, a stolen base (15-for-18 in SB attempts) and three RBI -- he's a nice little player; Brendan Katin now with 51 RBI; Hernan Iribarren on base three more times, OBP at .385 -- same goes for Adam Heether, OBP at .410, including his AA at-bats; Angel Salome's three singles nice, but there's still much to do, slugging only .333, yikes...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 2, Huntsville 0

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

Huntsville Holds Steady in Division Race

Suns Slow Down Stars in Series Starter

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Nic Ungs and three relievers combined to blank Huntsville 2-0 Thursday night, as Jacksonville claimed the opener of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars dipped to 35-24 but maintained their two and a half game lead in the North Division over Carolina, which fell at home to West Tenn, while Suns improved to 29-32. The Stars fell to 12-14 on home soil after being shutout for only the second time this season.

 

Scott Cousins led off the fifth inning with a bunt base hit and advanced to second base on a one-out walk to Lee Mitchell before Brad Davis drove them both in with a double. Stars' starter David Welch took the loss after tossing 6 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits while walking one and striking out four in his longest start at home this season.

 

Ungs, who won four times in seven starts for Huntsville last season, spun six shutout frames, giving up five hits, walking one and fanning two. He did not allow a runner past second base and did not face more than four batters in any inning. Ungs improved to 2-0 in three turns with the Suns.

 

Carlos Vasquez struck out Johnny Raburn with runners at second and third and one out in the seventh before he was replaced by Kasey Olenberger, who got pinch-hitter Chuck Caufield to fly out to end the inning. Olenberger worked a perfect eighth inning and was followed by Matt Peterson, who retired Raburn on a ground out to end the game with two runners on base. Peterson earned his 12th save of the season.

 

The series continues Friday night with right-hander Donovan Hand taking the hill for the Stars against Jacksonville right-hander Willie Glen. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Not a game the veteran utility infielder Johnny Raburn will remember fondly -- in fact, Raburn only came in after Yohannis Perez grounded into a double play to end the 2nd inning and was lifted, no word on whether Perez was injured or not on the play; Taylor Green with two hits, including a double -- he's hit safely in nine-of-ten games with five walks and is doing just fine in his first shot at AA pitching; Vinny Rottino two singles and a walk while playing left field...

 

Huntsville Game Log

In the 2nd, Jonathan Lucroy made up for his sixth passed ball of the season by snuffing out the subsequent stolen base attempt at third base...

[Mass Haas]

Final: DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Brewers / Orioles 4

 

DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score

RHP Rolando Pascual got the start and pitched five innings, allowing three runs while walking four, throwing a wild pitch, and striking out five; LHP Jose Ramos took the loss as he followed up Pascual; 19-year-old RHP Edwin Linares has only allowed one unearned run in his 11 innings this year, with only five hits (and seven walks); Brewer pitchers threw all nine innings in this one, so review the box score lines for more details; catcher Jhonatan Javier singled twice; 17-year-old Andres Martinez was the DH, singled in four AB's; LF Luis Chirinos went 0-for-4...

 

DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

[LouisEly]

Katin = clutch; .941 OPS with runners on, .924 OPS w/RISP