Buller Homers Twice As Sounds Blank Express, 4-0
Four pitchers combined for Nashville's PCL co-leading seventh shutout of the season, which also snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Express at The Dell Diamond.
Nashville (32-48) went yard three times on the night has homered in 10 of its last 12 games overall. Buller's two-homer performance marked the first multiple-homer game of his 11-year career and third two-homer effort by a Sound this season.
Shortstop Jeff Bianchi had two hits and a stolen base while second baseman Eric Farris singled to extend his hitting streak to nine games, which matches a season high.
Nashville starter Wily Peralta (3-8) tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings before experiencing leg cramps and precautionary leaving the contest. The 23-year old allowed four hits and three walks while inducing three double plays for the victory.
Buller took Rangers rehabbing starting pitcher Derek Holland deep in the top of the third inning to give the Sounds a 1-0 lead. The homer was Buller's first of the season and first in 166 at-bats since August 5, 2010 vs. Carolina.
In the next frame, first baseman Sean Halton went yard on Round Rock reliever Ross Wolf for the game's next run. Later in the inning after hits from left fielder Jordan Brown and second baseman Eric Farris, Express shortstop Luis Hernandez committed a costly fielding error during Buller's routine groundout that allowed Brown to score.
Later in the contest during the seventh inning, Buller hit a towering fly ball down the left field line that landed on top of the roof of the home run porch that was initially ruled a foul ball. After Sounds manager Mike Guerrero appealed, which caused the umpires to convene and change the call to a home run, Round Rock manager Bobby Jones was ejected.
Reliever Robert Wooten stranded his only batter in 1 1/3 scoreless inning. Mike McClendon followed with a perfect inning and one strikeout. Jim Henderson struck out two in an inning to end the game.
In his first rehab start, Holland (0-1) gave up one run on three hits in three innings for the loss.
The Sounds and Express continue with the second game of a three games series at 7:05 pm CT at The Dell Diamond. Coming off a strong performance and victory, right-hander Mark Rogers (3-4, 5.65) takes the hill for the Sounds against Express righty Derek Hankins (2-4, 4.20).