Sounds Pluck Redbirds 8-5

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The first-place Nashville Sounds (45-41) used a seven-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth to pick up an 8-5 win over the Memphis Redbirds (38-45) at Greer Stadium on Tuesday night, extending their win streak to five games.

Nashville trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth when Jeremy Hermida jump started the Sounds' rally with a one-out solo home run. Hermida finished the game going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. He has now reached base in 26 consecutive home games, the longest streak by any player in the PCL this season.

Following Hermida, seven straight Sounds batters reached base safely. Shawn Zarraga tied the game with an RBI single that scored Sean Halton. Hector Gomez then followed with an RBI double that gave the Sounds their first lead of the night at 4-3.

The big blow of the night then came off the bat of Pete Orr, who then knocked a two-run, pinch-hit triple. Orr is now hitting .362 with hits in 18 of his last 22 games. Nashville added to the lead with a Logan Schafer RBI double and an Eugenio Velez run-scoring single. The seven-run inning tied the Sounds' season high for runs in one inning.

The outburst came after rehabbing Cardinals starter Joe Kelly kept the Sounds offense quiet throughout the first half of the game. Kelly finished his rehab outing with four scoreless innings while allowing three hits and two walks.

Sounds starter Ariel Pena also shut the Redbirds out for the first four innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth when he allowed a three-run home run to rehabbing Cardinals infielder Kolten Wong that gave Memphis a 3-0 advantage.

Pena finished the game allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings on four hits and four walks while striking out eight.

Reliever Alfredo Figaro (3-1) earned the win, tossing one pitch to end the sixth inning on a fielder's choice.

Nashville got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the fifth when Schafer singled home Gomez. Schafer finished the game with a season-high four hits in five at-bats.

Despite being interrupted by a brief 25-minute rain delay, Sounds reliever Brent Leach provided two innings of scoreless relief in the top of the seventh and eighth. The Redbirds added two more runs in the ninth on a two-run homer from Randal Grichuck, but Sounds reliever Arcenio Leon got the final out shortly after.

The Sounds will continue their series with the Redbirds on Wednesday when RHP Jimmy Nelson (9-2, 1.66 ERA) takes to the hill opposite Memphis LHP Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.22 ERA). Jeff Hem will have the call on 102.5 The Game.