Sounds Commit Six Errors, Blow Late Lead In 9-5 Loss

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Nashville Sounds allowed six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning en route to a 9-5 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Wednesday afternoon at Security Service Field.

Nashville (18-15), which committed a season-high six errors in the game that resulted in seven unearned Sky Sox runs, has dropped three straight games for the first time since early April.

Seven of the nine Colorado Springs runs scored with two outs in an inning, including four of the six in the decision eighth frame against the Sounds' bullpen.

The late Sky Sox rally spoiled another outstanding outing by Nashville right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who tossed his seventh consecutive quality start to open the season.

The Brewers' top prospect allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings of action, striking out eight batters while walking two. Nelson, who left in line for his fourth straight winning start but was left with a no-decision, lowered his seasonal ERA to 2.00 with the effort.

The right-hander was backed by a 13-hit offensive attack that was led by 3-for-4 afternoons by Elian Herrera and Hunter Morris. Herrera's effort extended the second baseman's season-best hitting streak to seven games (12-for-30, .400).

Colorado Springs grabbed a first-inning lead with a pair unearned runs against Nelson. Ben Paulsen's two-out single brought in a pair of Sky Sox following throwing errors by Herrera and third baseman Pete Orr earlier in the frame.

Right-hander Leurys Gomez worked three scoreless innings in a start for the Sky Sox.

The Sounds took advantage of his departure in the fourth, plating a run against reliever Manny Corpas. Herrera and Morris opened the frame with consecutive singles and Herrera later stole third before scoring Nashville's first run of the afternoon on a Jeremy Hermida groundout.

The following inning, Nashville rallied to score four two-out runs to take a 5-2 lead.

Pete Orr knotted the contest when he delivered a clutch two-out RBI double to right off Corpas to bring home Kevin Mattison, who had led off the frame with a two-bagger of his own. Herrera and Hunter Morris followed Orr with consecutive singles, the second of which plated Orr to propel the visitors in front, before Sean Halton ripped a two-run double to chase Corpas and extend the Sounds' advantage to 5-2.

Colorado Springs got a run back in the home half of the fifth when a leadoff walk came back to burn Nelson. Tim Wheeler drew the inning-opening free pass and later scored on a two-out Kyle Parker single to reduce the Sounds' lead to 5-3.

In the decisive eighth, the Sky Sox capitalized on three Nashville fielding errors to plate six runs (five of which were unearned) to erase the deficit and claim a 9-5 advantage. The damage was done against Dustin Molleken and Donovan Hand, who suffered the Sounds' first blown save of the year in 12 tries.

Colorado Springs sent 11 men to the plate in the frame and scored the tying run when Hand hit Tim Wheeler with a pitch with the bases loaded. Later in the inning, Ryan Wheeler and Parker delivered back-to-back two-out, two-run knocks against Hand to spot the home team its four-run advantage.

Greg Burke worked around a Hector Gomez single in the top of the ninth to close out the win for Colorado Springs.

The teams play another 12:05 p.m. CT contest on Thursday. Left-hander Brad Mills (2-0, 2.22) will make the start for the Sounds to face Colorado Springs right-hander Christian Bergman (3-1, 4.95).