Noesi stymies Sounds in shutout

Hector Noesi struck out nine in seven scoreless innings and combined with three relievers on a four-hit shutout in the New Orleans Baby Cakes' 3-0 win over the Nashville Sounds.
Noesi stranded a pair of runners in the second inning, then did not permit a runner to advance base first base until the seventh, when he worked around two singles and a walk by striking out Jett Bandy to leave the tying run at third.
Noesi (5-2) recorded at least eight strikeouts for the third time this season and lowered his ERA to 2.19, trailing only his teammate Zac Gallen for the Pacific Coast League lead.
The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth when Isan Diaz hit a solo home run just right of the 403-foot sign in center field. It was Diaz's team-leading 11th homer of the campaign.
Diaz added a triple in the eighth to drive in Magneuris Sierra, and scored on a single by Yadiel Rivera to extend the lead to three.
Jordan Milbrath and Tyler Kinley combined to keep the Sounds off the board in the eighth, and R.J. Al arez struck on the side in order in the ninth inning to earn his seventh save.