Sounds Split Doubleheader With 5-1 Loss
With the split, the Sounds moved to 1-3 in doubleheader action in 2012 and sport a 13-23 record, which moves the club ahead of Memphis into third place in the PCL American Northern Division.
Reno struck first with three runs against starter Seth McClung in the opening frame of the nightcap. The bases were loaded with one out as Adam Eaton and Jake Elmore reached on singles, followed by a one-out walk from Mike Jacobs. David Winfree brought home the first run on a sacrifice fly while Taylor Harbin knocked a two-run triple in the ensuing at-bat.
The runs scored by Reno ended a scoreless streak of nine innings leading back to the fourth inning of Saturday's rain-shortened contest.
The Aces pushed the score to 4-1 in the top of the fifth as Eaton doubled and scored on an Elmore single to right field.
David Winfree belted his first homer of the season to extend the Aces' lead to 5-1 in the visiting half of the sixth. The solo shot was hammered over the wall in right center.
The Sounds got a run back in the next frame on Aces starter Taylor Sinclair, who made his Triple-A debut. Shortstop Jeff Bianchi reached on a run-down fielder's choice, and scored on an RBI base hit from left fielder Erick Almonte.
Schafer, Bianchi, and Sean Halton recorded two hits apiece in the nightcap.
Sinclair surrendered one run on four hits and a walk on 2 2/3 innings for the Aces. Reliever Mike DeMark (302) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the victory.
McClung (0-4) remained winless on the year, giving up four runs on five hits on while striking out four in 4 2/3 innings.
Juan Perez struck out his only two batters faced. Amaury Rivas allowed one run on one hit in 2/3 of an inning.
With a scoreless inning, Jim Henderson extended his scoreless streak to 17 2/3 innings over 10 appearances to open the season, the most innings of all PCL pitchers with a 0.00 ERA.
The teams will wrap up the four-game series with an 11:05 a.m. matinee on Tuesday morning at Greer Stadium, when thousands of area schoolchildren will pack the stands on Education Day as a reward for reaching their goals in the Nashville Sounds Reading Club program.
Right-hander Mark Rogers (0-2, 4.03) will start the contest for the Sounds and face Albuquerque southpaw Zach Kroenke (3-1, 5.23).