Sounds Stifle Express, 5-3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Fueled by Caleb Gindl's go-ahead home run in the bottom of the third and 6 1/3 scoreless innings from the Sounds bullpen, the first-place Nashville Sounds (51-46) took down the Round Rock Express, 5-3, at Greer Stadium in front of 8,441 fans on Saturday night.

Sounds pitchers overwhelmed opposing hitters throughout the evening, tying a season high with 15 strikeouts.

Down 3-1 with one out in the third, Gindl took an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for his seventh homer of the year, giving Nashville its first lead of the night. The Sounds got their first run of the night when the previous batter, Eugenio Velez, knocked in Hector Gomez with an RBI single.

The Express jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top half of the third on Sounds starter Johnnie Lowe. Helped by a pair of errors and four hits, Round Rock knocked Lowe out of the game after just 2 2/3 innings, but reliever Jose De La Torre (1-0) got control of the game shortly after. In his longest relief outing of the year, De La Torre went 3 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing just one hit to earn his first win with Nashville.

Arcenio Leon continued the good vibes out of the bullpen with two clean innings and striking out three. Closer Jeremy Jeffress then took over in the ninth and held Round Rock scoreless to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Jason Rogers gave the Sounds an important insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with his second home run of the year. Round Rock starter Justin Germano (3-9) went the distance despite the loss, pitching an eight-inning complete game and allowing five earned runs on seven hits.

The Sounds will go for their second series sweep of the season Sunday at 6:35 p.m. RHP Taylor Jungmann (4-5, 5.37) get the start for Nashville against RHP Jerome Williams, who is making his debut with the Express. Jeff Hem will have the call on 102.5 The GAME.