Sounds Deal Two-Hit Shutout In Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Nashville Sounds shut out the Iowa Cubs Tuesday afternoon at Principal Park, picking up the 8-0 victory behind a quality start from Brad Mills and a three-inning save by Michael Blazek.

Mills (3-0) held the I-Cubs to one hit through six scoreless innings to pick up the win and his third consecutive quality start. The outing extends his scoreless streak to 16 1/3 innings, the longest such streak by a Sounds pitcher this season, and trims his season ERA to 1.45.

He fanned a season-high eight batters and walked one before Blazek took over in the seventh. The two combined for the team's third shutout victory of the season, with Blazek netting his first save for three scoreless frames.

At the plate, Pete Orr, Hector Gomez, and Taylor Green each had three-hit, two-RBI outings to power the Sounds offense.

Nashville broke out of the 0-0 tie with four runs in the fourth inning off of Iowa starting pitcher Chris Rusin, ending his scoreless streak at 12 1/3 innings.

Sean Halton, 1-for-4, doubled to lead-off the fourth and moved to third on Gomez's infield single. Green followed with a double off the right-field wall to score Halton and give the Sounds a 1-0 lead with two on and no outs.

Outfielder Kevin Mattison hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Nashville's second run, before Orr hit a two-run two-out single into shallow left field.

The Sounds extended their lead to five runs in the sixth inning courtesy of a Rusin throwing error. Mills laid down his second sacrifice bunt on the play, moving both runners into scoring position, and reached safely on Rusin's errant run-scoring throw.

Gomez added a pair of runs to the Sounds total with a home run in the seventh inning. The Sounds have eight homers over the last five games, after recording only two homers in their previous 11 contests.

Green scored the team's final run in the ninth inning with his second RBI-double of the game, which scored Gomez.

After a league-wide off day Wednesday, the Sounds will begin an eight-game homestand at Greer Stadium on Thursday night as they take on the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros affiliate). Right-handed pitcher Ariel Pena (2-2, 4.66) will make the start for Nashville, opposite the RedHawks RHP Nick Tropeano (1-3, 2.94). Broadcaster Jeff Hem has the call on 102.5 The Game.