Sounds Lose 7-4 On Throwback Thursday
Wearing throwback jerseys as part of Taco Bell Throwback Thursday, the Sounds (9-6) have now dropped five of their last seven contests.
RedHawks starter Michael Ballard earned the win (2-0) after throwing six innings and surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits with four strikeouts.
The Sounds had another fast start as Nashville took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. After Erick Almonte walked and Joe Koshansky singled to right field, Adam Heether ripped a single to center for the club's first run. Luis Cruz followed with an RBI-triple to deep center to score Heether for the next run.
Nashville second baseman Eric Farris singled to left field to reach base in the next frame, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error from catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and then scored on a Norris Hopper sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Nashville advantage.
Oklahoma City quickly reduced the Nashville lead to 3-2 in the next inning, as Chad Tracy and Matt Brown both belted solo home runs off Sounds lefty Chase Wright.
Esteban German doubled home Brandon Boggs to knot the game at 3-3 in the next inning, before Tracy was walked to load the bases. Wright then fanned Justin Smoak to get out of the jam and end the inning.
In the next frame, right fielder Johnny Raburn untied the contest with his first jack of the season, a solo home run to left field for a 4-3 Sounds lead.
Saltalamacchia quickly tied the contest again in the top of the next frame with his first home run of the year to left field.
Oklahoma City took a final 7-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning, as right-handed reliever Tim Dillard (0-1) surrounded three straight singles followed by a triple to RedHawk batters, his first runs surrendered of the season to earn the loss.
Wright earned a no-decision, allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.
In his third game of his major league rehab assignment, Saltalamacchia went 1-for-4 with a home run.
The Sounds and RedHawks wrap up their four-game series with Friday night's 7:05 pm CT homestand finale at historic Greer Stadium. Sounds right-hander Kameron Loe (1-1, 5.51) takes the mound against Oklahoma City southpaw Derek Holland (2-0, 0.46).