Sounds Clip Chihuahuas, 4-2
EL PASO, Texas - The Nashville Sounds (68-57) edged the El Paso Chihuahuas Thursday night at Southwest University Park to win by a final 4-2 margin.
Nashville got on the board first courtesy of a Matt Clark, 3-for-4, solo home run in the second inning. The first baseman has lifted four homers over the last three games.
Clark's streak of three consecutive games with a dinger is the longest by a Sound this season. He has left the yard nine times since joining the Sounds on July 4.
After singling to reach base in the sixth, Clark added to the Sounds' cause by scoring on Pete Orr's triple to the corner in right field. Orr finished the night 2-for-4.
Outfielder Eugenio Velez, 3-for-4, blasted his seventh home run of the season in the seventh inning to give Nashville a 4-0 lead over the Chihuahuas. The one-out roundtripper over the right field wall scored Logan Schafer, who doubled to reach scoring position and extend his hit streak to 12 games, the longest by a Sound this season.
After six scoreless innings, Sounds starting pitcher Michael Blazek (3-4) ran into trouble. El Paso newcomer Jeff Francoeur singled to lead off the seventh and was followed by Yeison Asencio, who touched the right-hander for a two-run homer to end his night.
But that's all the bite the Chihuahuas could muster as relievers Brent Leach, Alfredo Figaro and Rob Wooten each turned in a scoreless inning.
Blazek picked up his third win of the season with his six-inning quality start, while Wooten notched his11th save by fanning two in the ninth.
El Paso's Matt Wisler (7-5) took the loss, allowing Nashville two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings.
The win keeps Nashville a half-game ahead of Memphis for the division lead with 19 games to go. At 68-57, the Sounds sit a season-best 11 games above .500.
The Sounds will look to win the series over El Paso Friday night. Nashville sends RHP Ariel Pena (9-7, 4.28) to the hill opposite the Chihuahuas' RHP Joe Wieland. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.