Link Report for Monday 6/18 -- Lunch with the Sounds

[Mass Haas]

Link for Chris Barnwell photo, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Sounds wait out the rain to complete sweep of Royals

Home record best in entire league

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

A couple of rain showers Monday washed away any hope Omaha had of rallying against Nashville.

 

The Sounds had built a four-run cushion in the top of the seventh when the first downpour drenched the crowd of 5,086 at Greer Stadium.

 

When the game finally ended after three hours, 39 minutes, 6-2 in Nashville's favor, the Sounds were able to complete a four-game sweep of the Royals. It marked Nashville's second sweep this season and the first since beating Iowa four straight games in April.

 

"It's important to win series," said Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas. "I think (Monday) was just a bonus game for us to get the win."

 

The game was delayed for a total of one hour, eight minutes. Thunder and lightning accompanied the second delay.

 

"Delays like that make it hard to get any real momentum going," said Sounds first baseman Joe Dillon. "Obviously, it breaks up the game. And this game didn't have much of a flow to it anyway. It was kind of dead today with not many fans."

 

Only a handful of fans stuck around following the second delay, which lasted 23 minutes.

 

Dillon helped Nashville capture its sixth consecutive win and hold on to first place in the Pacific Coast League North Division, hitting a double to the leftfield wall that scored Charles Thomas and gave the Sounds a 3-0 lead. Dillon then scored on a sacrifice fly by Vinny Rottino.

 

Nashville pitcher Zach Jackson (8-3) allowed just two runs on seven hits in six innings.

 

The Sounds have won 24 of their last 30 games at Greer Stadium and have the PCL's best home record (25-10).

 

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Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Brewers send Gwynn Jr. back to Sounds

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Tony Gwynn Jr., who spent most of last season with the Sounds, is headed back to Nashville.

 

The Brewers announced Monday that the center fielder would be sent down to free up a roster spot for second baseman Rickie Weeks, who had been on the disabled list with an injured wrist.

 

Gwynn had a .301 batting average (25-of-83) with eight RBIs in 49 games in Milwaukee this season. He played in 112 games for the Sounds last year and 32 on two stints for the Brewers.

 

Gwynn might be in town for the Sounds' next game Wednesday against Iowa.

 

Parra on the mound: Starting left-hander Manny Parra will make his debut for the Sounds on Wednesday.

 

Parra arrived in Nashville on Friday from Double-A Huntsville to fill the roster spot left by Yovani Gallardo, who last week was called up to Milwaukee and started Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants.

 

Parra posted a 7-3 record with a 2.68 ERA in 13 appearances at Huntsville.

 

Another RBI: Joe Dillon's double to left-center field in the fourth inning Monday scored Charles Thomas from second and was Dillon's 42nd RBI of the season. That leads the Sounds.

 

Doubling up: Omaha designated hitter Billy Butler hit two doubles in the first four innings. Butler's second double hit high off the center-field wall, chipping some of the green paint away. After his second double, Butler scored from third on an RBI single by Jorge Padilla.

 

Uncharacteristic: The Sounds committed a rare error in the first inning when left fielder Vinny Rottino mishandled Butler's first double. Jose Macias also committed an error on a bouncer to third in the second inning.

 

Heading into the game, Nashville's defense had committed a Pacific Coast League-low 39 errors.

 

Omaha first baseman Craig Brazell committed an error in the fourth, allowing Callix Crabbe to make it to third. Ozzie Chavez scored an unearned run on the play, giving Nashville a 5-1 lead.

 

Hot in June: Nashville's 12 victories in June is tied with New Orleans for the most wins among Triple-A clubs.

 

Striking first: The Sounds have scored the game's first run a PCL-leading 45 times this season. Nashville has outscored opponents 51-28 in the first inning.

 

Visiting mascots: Titans mascot T-Rac and the Predators' Gnash made appearances at Monday's game to the delight of many of the day-camp children, who were special guests.

 

Southpaw success: With lefty starter Tyler Lumsden taking the loss Monday for Omaha, the Sounds are now 13-4 this season when facing left-handed pitchers.

 

Fisher and Friends: The Jeff Fisher & Friends Softball Game is 7 p.m. Saturday at Greer Stadium. Tickets are $15 for sections H-S and $10 for all remaining seats, which will be first-come, first-served. Kids tickets are $6. Tickets can be purchased online at nashvillesounds.com or by calling (615) 242-4371 ext. 2.

[Southern Leaguer]

We were at the Stars' game and Escobar made more than just a couple of outstanding plays, there were at least 4 or 5 that could be called web-gems.He dove for a groundball behind 2nd and flipped the ball to Iribarren with his glove to start a double play. He went deep into the hole, dove, and threw from his knees for another out, and dove back and to his left to grab a sinking liner for another. He showed his arm on a routine grounder that he charged, had a little trouble getting the ball from his glove and still got the runner at first.

On his baserunning mistake, I agree he should have been called out for dumb baserunning but we were sitting a couple of rows up and just down the line from 3rd and I'm sure the umpire got the call right. Even worse than that, Iribarren didn't slide at home on Brantley's double and could have easily been called out.

We're going back tonight and hoping for another exciting Stars' win.

[1e Corbeau]

Quote:

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i dont see salome moving up mid season...remember, one of the benefits of keeping him in BC is that he can DH when he's not catching...

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A very good point that I overlooked.

 

Also, I'm in no hurry to see him bumped, just admiring his stats wrt league and age. Obviously, the more experience behind the dish, the better. It'll be exciting to see how he handles the jump to AA, whenever he gets there.