Sounds Win Second Straight Over Oklahoma City, 2-1
The one-run victory was the club's PCL-leading 17th of the season. Eleven of the 15 games played between Nashville and Oklahoma City this season have been decided by two runs or less.
Nashville (30-44) was held to four hits, but two went for extra bases and were responsible for both runs. In his fifth rehab game while recovering from a left oblique strain, Travis Ishikawa went 1-for-4 with a double and the go-ahead RBI in the sixth inning.
Oklahoma City scored their only run in the opening frame on three consecutive two-out singles, highlighted by a Fernando Martinez RBI base hit to right field.
Outfielder Jay Gibbons crushed a game-tying solo homer off RedHawks reliever Aneury Rodriguez in the bottom of the fourth. Extending his hitting streak to a season-best five games, Gibbons' homer was his second in back-to-back contests and his fifth in nine games.
Nashville went ahead at 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Caleb Gindl worked an inning-opening walk, Ishikawa cranked an RBI double off the wall in right-center. In his second rehab appearance while recovering from a right quadriceps strain, Nashville starter Marco Estrada gave up one run on six hits in five innings of work for a no decision. He also struck out three and walked one with 77 pitches (52 strikes).
The Nashville bullpen pitched well and didn't allow a run for the second straight game while following up with four scoreless frames from four different pitchers.
Amaury Rivas (4-4) worked around two hits for a scoreless inning and the victory. Brian Baker walked two and struck out one in a scoreless frame. Donovan Hand pitched a scoreless inning behind three great defensive plays from second baseman Eric Farris and shortstop Jeff Bianchi.
Jim Henderson struck out the side and stranded the tying run on second base to convert his sixth save of the season.
For the second time in the series, Oklahoma City's starter lasted only one inning. Armando Galarraga gave up one hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. Rodriguez (2-7) followed five innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits, but came away with the loss.
The Sounds and RedHawks will conclude their season series at 7:05 pm CT on Friday evening at Greer Stadium. Nashville right-hander Wily Peralta (2-8, 5.96) will toe the rubber against Oklahoma City lefty Brett Oberholtzer (0-1, 6.75).