Link Report for Fri. 5/18 -- A Super-Eventful Night All Around

[Mass Haas]

Photo array of Carlos Gomez' A-Ball home run admiration

[Mass Haas]

Sounds Score Late To Win 4-3 In Tucson

Gonzalez Delivers Game-Winning RBI In The Eighth Inning

Nashville Sounds

 

TUCSON, Ariz. - Third baseman Andy Gonzalez delivered a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning for a 4-3 victory over the Tucson Padres on Friday evening at Kino Stadium.

 

Trailing 2-3 entering the eighth, second baseman Eric Farris got things started by singling, stealing second base, and reaching third on a throwing error. After first baseman Erick Almonte and right fielder Jordan Brown worked two-out walks, Gonzalez grounded a two-run single up the middle to plate Farris and Almonte (audio). The game-winning RBI was Gonzalez's second in the last three games.

 

Winners in six of their last nine games, the Sounds improve to 15-25 and pick up their first win in Friday action this season (1-6).

 

Twenty-four of the Sounds' 40 games have been decided by one or two runs (10-14 in those contests), which lead the PCL.

 

Starting pitcher Claudio Vargas helped his own cause in the second frame to put the Sounds on the board. With the bases juiced and one out, Vargas lined a hit up the middle that deflected off of pitcher Kip Wells and drifted past the second baseman to score Gonzalez. On the following play, center fielder Logan Schafer made it 2-0 with an infield groundout to shortstop.

 

The Padres knotted the contest at 2-2 in the home half of the third. Leadoff hitter Blake Tekotte lined his fourth homer of the right field wall and was followed by a Logan Forsythe double, which removed Vargas from the game. Later in the inning with two outs, Yasmani Grandal knocked a game-tying RBI single to left.

 

The Padres took a 3-2 in the sixth as Grandal lead off the frame with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch from Donovan Hand, and scored on a Sawyer Carroll RBI single.

 

Tucson threatened in the eighth, putting runners on the corners with no outs. After Grandal doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, Carroll walked to remove Johnnie Lowe from the ball game. Reliever Mike McClendon then entered the game and worked out of a jam. The right-hander struck out Daniel Robertson on three pitches and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

 

The Padres threatened again in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded the tying run in scoring posotion. McClendon struck out the first two batters before walking a batter and allowing a base hit. McClendon then induced a game-ening groundout for his second save of the season (audio).

 

In his Sounds debut, Vargas gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in two plus innings of work. The 33-year-old struck out four batters with 51 pitches, (31 strikes) in a no-decision.

 

In relief of Vargas, Hand worked a season-high four innings, giving up one run on four hits while striking out two. Lowe (4-0) pitched a scoreless frame for the victory and extended his scoreless streak to 15 1/3 innings. McClendon stranded two runners and picked up a six-out save.

 

Nashville swiped a season-high four bases, including two from Farris.

 

Tucson starter Kip Wells allowed two unearned runs on four hits while fanning two for a no-decision. Anthony Reyes (0-1) took the loss in his season-debut with two runs in 2 2/3 innings.

 

The Sounds and Padres will play the third game of a four-game series at 9:05 pm CT at Kino Stadium in Tucson. Right-hander Mike Fiers (1-2, 3.53) will man the bump against Tucson righty Jorge Reyes (2-5, 4.93).

[Mass Haas]

Tucson Bottom of the 8th

Yasmani Grandal doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Logan Schafer.

With Sawyer Carroll batting, wild pitch by Johnnie Lowe, Yasmani Grandal to 3rd.

Sawyer Carroll walks.

Defensive switch from first base to third base for Erick Almonte.

Defensive Substitution: Sean Halton replaces pitcher Johnnie Lowe, batting 9th, playing first base.

Pitcher Change: Mike McClendon replaces Johnnie Lowe, batting 6th.

Daniel Robertson called out on strikes.

Beamer Weems grounds into double play, shortstop Hainley Statia to second baseman Eric Farris to first baseman Sean Halton. Sawyer Carroll out at 2nd.

 

***

 

Mike McClendon's finest moment this season, no doubt. Johnnie Lowe's season-long scoreless streak continues, and Lowe is now 4-0, but wow, that's an impressive job to salvage both the win and Lowe's streak by Mike.

[Mass Haas]

The Post-Cresent Rattler game story includes another Carlos Gomez video interview, Gomez' thoughts on the HBP post-HR theatrics, and more.

 

“That’s bull,” said Gomez. “I’ve been in the big leagues for six years and no one’s ever hit me yet for something like that. That’s not the way you teach young players. If they’re mad, then hit me, not someone else.”

 

Tough for the Bees to do when you're dancing in the dugout, dude...

[Mass Haas]

Brad Krause with his always worthwhile Rattlers thoughts and photos from the game last night.

[Mass Haas]

Flipped-over ping-pong table in Tucson -- now, how about Miller Park?

[Mass Haas]

Chasers' Odorizzi solid in Triple-A debut

[Tedaldtada]

I will post the full recap in the morning. Nashville down 1 heading into the 8th.

 

Box Score

 

Returning Brewer and Sound Claudio Vargas made the start. He was uninspiring. He did K 4 in just 2 IP. Equally unimpressive major league vet Kip Wells took the hill for Tucson. What, is this a mid-aughts Pirates-Brewers game? Both pitchers were very highly thought of at one point in time.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

 

Well, that ended up being a pretty fun game. Congrats to hero Andy Gonzalez for his 2-out 2-run 8th inning hit. Seems to me Tucson left Anthony Reyes out there a bit too long. The Sounds were smart to score in the 8th because high end closer prospect Brad Boxberger (Mat Latos deal) awaited in the 9th. Former Red, Yasmani Grandl (also the Latos trade), had three hits for Tucson. This Padres AAA club is stacked with big league caliber players.

 

No Sound had multiple hits but Eric Farris did steal multiple bases, up to 12 now. Farris was also caught stealing and picked off second, so yeah. Two of the Sounds' runs were unearned with Tucson committing four errors in the game. Logan Schafer is back and he had an RBI hit in 5 trips. Caleb Gindl (1-4) batted in the bottom 3rd.

 

The winning rally.

 

Nashville Top of the 8th

 

Logan Schafer grounds out, third baseman Logan Forsythe to first baseman Matt Clark.

Eric Farris singles on a line drive to center fielder Blake Tekotte, deflected by second baseman Jedd Gyorko.

Hainley Statia flies out to center fielder Blake Tekotte.

With Erick Almonte batting, Eric Farris steals (12) 2nd base, . Eric Farris advances to 3rd, on throwing error by catcher Yasmani Grandal.

Erick Almonte walks.

Jordan Brown walks. Erick Almonte to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Erik Hamren replaces Anthony Reyes, batting 9th.

Andy Gonzalez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Blake Tekotte. Eric Farris scores. Erick Almonte scores. Jordan Brown to 3rd.

Caleb Gindl pops out to catcher Yasmani Grandal in foul territory.

[jjfanec]

Chasers' Odorizzi solid in Triple-A debut

 

6 2/3 with 9 hits, a walk, 3 ER and 4 K's isnt really solid in my mind. Now Odorizzi has been very good after some rocky starts in AA so I think he is a very good prospect. Just thought the headline the article had was a little misleading. Maybe just semantics though. I would call that a decent start