Zephyrs outlast Sounds in 18 innings

The New Orleans Zephyrs scored three times in the top of the 18th inning to outlast the Nashville Sounds, 7-5 on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park.

In the Zephyrs' first-ever game at the Sounds' new ballpark, the teams played their longest game since playing a Pacific Coast League-record 24-inning contest at Greer Stadium on May 5, 2006.

The game remained tied from the seventh inning until the 18th, despite Nashville turning to infielder Niuman Romero to pitch. Scott Sizemore, who had five hits in six at-bats, singled with one out, and Austin Wates followed with a bunt single before Miguel Rojas tripled to finally break the tie.

Cole Gillespie added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly, and James Nygren (1-0) allowed a run in the bottom of the inning before recording the final out 5 hours and 26 minutes after the game's first pitch.

Vinny Rottino gave the Zephyrs an early lead, belting a two-run homer in the fourth against Barry Zito.

Z's starter Andre Rienzo held Nashville hitless through five innings before Andy Parrino tripled leading off the sixth and scored on a ground out by Anthony Aliotti.

New Orleans got another two-run homer to take a 4-1 lead in the seventh, as Brady Shoemaker hit his third home run of the year to end Zito's night.

But the Sounds came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on three walks and an error by Derek Dietrich.

Neither team managed much of a scoring threat until Newman took over on the mound in the 17th inning. The Zephyrs loaded the bases with one out, only for the Sounds infielder to strike out both Dietrich and Shoemaker to keep the game tied.

The teams will have only a few hours of rest until the series continues on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.