Z's take opener in Nashville

Isaac Galloway put the Zephyrs on top for good with a two-run home run in the seventh inning and Kendry Flores pitched into the seventh inning as New Orleans won 4-1 on Friday night over the Nashville Sounds.

After Jordany Valdespin opened the top of the seventh with a bunt that Nashville starter Cody Martin threw down the right field line, the Zephyrs had the leadoff man in scoring position. Austin Nola dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Valdespin to third before Galloway unloaded on a 2-1 pitch from Martin for his fourth homer of the season and the first to straightaway center field at the first year home of the Sounds, First Tennessee Park.

Flores, who threw exactly 100 pitches, worked six and 2/3 innings, allowing just six Nashville hits, including a solo home run from Bryan Anderson in the fifth. The right-hander won his third game for the Z's and lowered his ERA to 2.47.

The Zephyrs struck for the game's first run when catcher Jhonatan Solano took Martin deep leading off the third inning. It was Solano's third long ball of the season and first since his pinch-hit homer on June 14 against Omaha.

Chris Reed got New Orleans out of a tough spot in the seventh inning by striking out Anderson in just his third appearance since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization earlier this month.

All-Star closer Nick Wittgren got the final three outs for his 13th save in 15 tries, one night after pitching two innings for the first time in over a month.

Galloway, Valdespin and Kila Ka'aihue each had two of the Zephyrs' nine hits in the game. The Z's had lost the first seven games since the All-Star break, but bounced back on Thursday night against Memphis and took the first of this weekend's four-game series in Nashville to crawl back within a half game of the Sounds for third place in the American Southern division.

Lefty Justin Nicolino is scheduled to oppose fellow southpaw Brad Mills on Saturday night. Nicolino recorded just five outs in his last start on July 20 against Memphis and has made three previous starts against the Sounds this season, going 1-2, allowing seven runs over 21 and 1/3 innings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.