Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Sounds Score Late To Win 4-3 In Tucson

Gonzalez Delivers Game-Winning RBI In The Eighth Inning
May 19, 2012
TUCSON, Ariz. - Third baseman Andy Gonzalez delivered a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning for a 4-3 victory over the Tucson Padres on Friday evening at Kino Stadium.

Trailing 2-3 entering the eighth, second baseman Eric Farris got things started by singling, stealing second base, and reaching third on a throwing error. After first baseman Erick Almonte and right fielder Jordan Brown worked two-out walks, Gonzalez grounded a two-run single up the middle to plate Farris an Almonte. The game-winning RBI was Gonzalez's second in the last three games.

Winners in six of their last nine games, the Sounds improve to 15-25 and pick up their first win in Friday action this season (1-6).

Twenty-four of the Sounds' 40 games have been decided by one or two runs (10-14 in those contests), which lead the PCL.

Starting pitcher Claudio Vargas helped his own cause in the second frame to put the Sounds on the board. With the bases juiced and one out, Vargas lined a hit up the middle that deflected off of pitcher Kip Wells and drifted past the second baseman to score third baseman Andy Gonzalez. On the following play, center fielder Logan Schafer made it 2-0 with an infield groundout to shortstop.

The Padres knotted the contest at 2-2 in the home half of the third. Leadoff hitter Blake Tekotte lined his fourth homer of the right field wall and was followed by a Logan Forsythe double, which removed Vargas from the game. Later in the inning with two outs, Yasmani Grandal knocked a game-tying RBI single to left.

The Padres took a 3-2 in the sixth as Grandal lead off the frame with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch from Donovan Hand, and scored on a Sawyer Carroll RBI single.

Tucson threatened in the eighth, putting runners on the corners with no outs. After Grandal doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, Carroll walked to remove Johnnie Lowe from the ball game. Reliever Mike McClendon then entered the game and worked out of a jam. The right-hander struck out Daniel Robertson on three pitches and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Padres threatened again in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded the tying run in scoring posotion. McClendon struck out the first two batters before walking a batter and allowing a base hit. McClendon then induced a game-ening groundout for his second save of the season.

In his Sounds debut, Vargas gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in two plus innings of work. The 33-year-old struck out four batters with 51 pitches, (31 strikes) in a no-decision.

In relief of Vargas, Hand worked a season-high four innings, giving up one run on four hits while striking out two. Lowe (4-0) pitched a scoreless frame for the victory and extended his scoreless streak to 15 1/3 innings. McClendon stranded two runners and picked up a six-out save.

Nashville swiped a season-high four bases, including two from Farris.

Tucson starter Kip Wells allowed two unearned runs on four hits while fanning two for a no-decision. Anthony Reyes (0-1) took the loss in his season-debut with two runs in 2 2/3 innings.

The Sounds and Padres will play the third game of a four-game series at 9:05 pm CT at Kino Stadium in Tucson. Right-hander Mike Fiers (1-2, 3.53) will man the bump against Tucson righty Jorge Reyes (2-5, 4.93).