Sounds Take Finale Against Omaha, 4-1
Logan Schafer accounted for half of Nashville's six hits with a 3-for-4 effort that included a pair of runs scored, the outfielder's seventh multiple-hit effort in his last 11 contests.
Nashville right-hander Wily Peralta (2-8) defeated Omaha for the second time in two starts this season, holding the Storm Chasers to one run on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. He walked two batters and struck out six during his 98-pitch effort.
The Sounds (28-43) took an early lead with an unearned run in the first inning against Omaha starter Mike Montgomery. Schafer led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a groundout, and hustled around to score when Storm Chasers second baseman Anthony Seratelli made a throwing error after fielding a Travis Ishikawa grounder.
Peralta escaped a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the third inning when second baseman Eric Farris made a spectacular diving stop to his left on a sharp Salvador Perez grounder and threw out the catcher to end the frame.
Nashville increased the lead to 3-0 in the third after loading the bases with no outs against Montgomery.
Farris drew a leadoff walk then moved to second when Schafer's bunt up the first-base side eluded a pair of Omaha defenders for an infield single. Cesar Izturis followed with a sacrifice bunt, which Perez fielded just in front of the plate and threw late to third in an attempt to retire the lead runner, loading the bags full of Sounds.
Ishikawa, the next batter, fell behind 0-2 against Montgomery before recovering to draw a walk to force home Farris for a 2-0 lead. Andy Gonzalez followed with a double-play grounder, which plated Schafer with the frame's second run.
Omaha got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, plating a run against Peralta to cut the Nashville lead to 3-1 when Tony Abreu rapped a single and later came plateward on Seratelli's two-out single to left.
Gonzalez staked Nashville to a 4-1 lead in the home half of the sixth when he led off the frame by belting his fifth home run of the year and second of the series, a solo shot to left off Montgomery.
The Sounds' bullpen followed Peralta with 3 1/3 scoreless frames to close out the victory. Donovan Hand worked 1 1/3 innings, Vinnie Chulk tossed a scoreless frame, and Jim Henderson earned his team-leading fifth save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Mongtomery (3-3) took the loss for the Storm Chasers after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits over six frames of action.
Izturis played a scheduled five innings at shortstop for the Sounds in game two of his rehabilitation assignment. He went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt at the plate, grounding out and reaching on a fielding error.
Ishikawa served as Nashville's designated hitter for the second straight game and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
Following a league-wide off day tomorrow, the Sounds continue their homestand on Tuesday by welcoming Oklahoma City (AAA-Astros) to town for a four-game series. Nashville has lost 11 of its 12 games versus the RedHawks this season.
Right-hander Claudio Vargas (2-0, 4.21) will start Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. series opener for the Sounds. Oklahoma City will counter with left-hander Wes Musick (1-2, 3.14).