Sounds Take Down Rival Redbirds In Series Opener, 5-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds defeated the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds, 5-2, on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

Nashville (6-12) improved to 4-0 in series openers at Greer and snapped a three-game skid with its first come-from-behind victory.

Second baseman Scooter Gennett went 3-for-3 for the Sounds to extend his hitting streak to seven games, matching his longest effort of the year. He has produced knocks in 14 of his 15 games and reached base safely in all 15. Gennett is batting .417 on the year.

Outfielder Caleb Gindl also continued his hot hitting for Nashville, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs to run his current hit streak to five games (6-for-13, .462).

Sounds starter Johnny Hellweg did not allow a hit in the first four frames before Memphis broke through in the fifth for a pair of knocks and the game's first run. Adron Chambers reached on a one-out single, stole second, and scored on Oscar Taveras' two-out RBI single to center.

Hellweg allowed one run on two hits in five innings of work. He struck out a season-high six and also walked three batters and hit a pair during his 90-pitch effort.

Nashville took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs that scored following an error by Memphis shortstop Greg Garcia.

Gennett singled with one out and Hunter Morris followed with a grounder to first, where Brock Peterson touched the bag and his throw to second beat Gennett to the base but Garcia failed to apply the tag. Sean Halton followed by greeting Redbirds reliever Maikel Cleto with a first-pitch, game-tying single to left. Cleto hit Stephen Parker then Cole Garner and Gindl drew back-to-back walks, with the latter forcing home Halton with the go-ahead run.

Lyons ended up with a no-decision for Memphis after striking out nine batters and allowing one unearned run on three hits in his 5 1/3 frames.

The Sounds extended the lead to 3-1 with another run off Cleto (0-1), who took the loss, in the seventh. Dayton Buller struck out to open the frame but reached first on a wild pitch. After being sacrificed to second by Gennett, the Nashville backstop scored on Morris' two-out RBI double to center.

Memphis pulled back within a run in the top of the eighth when Peterson hit a leadoff double and later scored on a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-2 contest.

Gindl plated a pair of insurance runs for the Sounds in the home half of the eighth with a two-run, opposite-field triple to left-center off Sam Freeman. Halton (walk) and Parker (hit by pitch) scored on the knock to increase the lead to 5-2.

Chris Jakubauskas (1-0) earned the win following 1 2/3 frames of scoreless relief for the Sounds. Rob Wooten worked a scoreless ninth to nail down his fourth save of the year.

Bianchi finished 0-for-5 in his fifth rehab game for the Sounds. He is hitting .227 (5-for-22) with the club.

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Friday. Right-hander Mike Fiers (0-0, 0.00) will make the start for the Sounds and face Memphis southpaw Nick Additon (1-1, 5.79).