3X the Fun: Triples key third inning in 11-1 win

The Oklahoma City RedHawks beat the Nashville Sounds 11-1 Sunday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Joaquin Arias went 3-4 with a single, triple, home run, and a walk while driving in three to lead the RedHawks offensively.

Both starting pitchers were sharp over the first two innings, but Oklahoma City broke the game open against Chris Cody with six runs in the third. Kevin Richardson led off the inning with his first triple of the season. After Julio Borbon lined out to second, Arias tripled and gave the RedHawks a 1-0 lead. After Esteban German walked, Chris Davis, Brandon Boggs and Justin Smoak reached on three consecutive singles and the lead was extended to 3-0. One out later, Jose Vallejo came to the plate with the bases loaded and tripled to right to clear the bases and build a six run advantage.

In the fourth, Oklahoma City added a pair of runs on run scoring singles from German and Davis, giving the RedHawks an 8-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Erick Almonte singled and scored on a Jason Bourgeois base hit.

After Vallejo doubled to leadoff the fifth, Borbon singled and became the ninth different player to reach on a base hit for Oklahoma City in the contest. Arias followed with his fourth home run of the season; a two-run shot to left that capped the scoring at 11-1.

Elizardo Ramirez (7-7) pitched seven solid innings, allowing seven hits, all singles, and gave up the lone Nashville run. Bryan Corey and Beau Vaughan each pitched a perfect inning to finish off the Sounds. Cody (4-6) took the loss after giving up the six in the third, his final inning of work in the game.

Arias and Vallejo drove in three runs apiece, while five different RedHawks had multi-hit games. Davis also drove in a pair of runs for Oklahoma City, which has earned at least a series split in this four game set and has guaranteed a season-long series win after its ninth victory against Nashville this season. Joe Koshansky had the lone multi-hit game for the Sounds.

After 100 games this season, Oklahoma City is 52-48 and trails only Albuquerque in the division. One year ago, the eventual Pacific Coast League American Conference champions were 56-44 and held a nine game lead in the division.

The RedHawks will complete this brief homestand against the Sounds Monday afternoon at 4:05 pm. Kris Benson will start for Oklahoma City against Nashville's Sam Narron at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.