Sounds Defeat I-Cubs For Fifth Straight Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The red-hot Nashville Sounds sent a season-high crowd of 8,011 fans home happy on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium by recording their fifth straight victory, a 3-1 triumph over the Iowa Cubs.

The win combined with a Round Rock loss to New Orleans gave Nashville (17-12) sole possession of first place in its division for the first time since April 17, 2011. The Sounds have won eight of their last nine games.

Nashville starter Johnnie Lowe turned in a solid start for the Sounds, continuing the club's recent outstanding work in that department. The right-hander held Iowa to one hit over four scoreless innings of work and struck out six batters during his 63-pitch outing.

Sounds starting pitchers have posted a collective 0.64 ERA (2er/28.0ip) in the last six games, blanking the opposition in five of those six contests.

The Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Elian Herrera legged out an infield single and later scored on a wild pitch uncorked by Iowa starter Kyle Hendricks (3-2), who took the loss.

Nashville extended its lead to 3-0 in the sixth on an RBI single from Hunter Morris followed by Jeremy Hermida's run-scoring double off the left-center wall.

Brent Leach (2-0) followed Lowe with three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory. The southpaw allowed one hit and struck out four batters.

Iowa got on the board in the top of the eighth against Jeremy Jeffress, pulling within 3-1 and leaving a pair of runners in scoring position in the frame.

The Nashville right-hander issued consecutive one-out walks before Lars Anderson delivered an RBI single to left to break up the Sounds' shutout bid. After a wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out, Jeffress escaped the jam by striking out Logan Watkins before inducing an inning-ending groundout from Arismendy Alcantara.

Dustin Molleken retired the Cubs in order in the ninth to close out the victory and notch his first save of the year.

The teams continue the series with a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Ariel Pena (0-2, 5.29) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Iowa left-hander Eric Jokisch (2-1, 3.48)