Nashville Sounds 2008 season thread

[brewcrew82]

I don't know who will be interested in this but I'm planning on starting a thread dedicated to the Brewers AAA affiliate, Nashville Sounds (Pacific Coast League). I did something similar last year but more as a way of tracking Ryan Brauns progress before his Major League call up.

I follow the team reasonably closely so I'll post game reports, news and anything else of note.

In 2008 the Sounds will look to win their division for the fourth year in a row.

[brewcrew82]

Firstly, here is the Sounds opening day roster for 2008.

#-----NAME-----POS

Pitchers

11 Mitch Stetter LHP
12 Erasmo Ramirez LHP
13 Zach Jackson LHP
15 Mark DiFelice RHP
17 Tim Dillard RHP
19 Richie Gardner RHP
20 Steve Bray RHP
21 Luis Pena RHP
23 Chris Narveson LHP
25 Ben Howard RHP
26 Lindsday Gulin LHP
29 Nic Ungs RHP
34 Yovani Gallardo RHP
35 Jason Shiell RHP
37 Melqui Torres RHP

Catchers

10 Vinny Rottino C
27 Eric Munson C

Infielders

3 Steve Sollmann INF
5 Ozzie Chavez INF
14 Abraham Nunez INF
28 Adam Heether INF
31 Brad Nelson INF
33 Russell Branyan INF

Outfielders

2 Hernan Iribarren OF
9 Mel Stocker OF
30 Laynce Nix OF
39 Brendan Katin OF

[brewcrew82]

April 1st vs Belmont

As has become an annual tradition, the Nashville Sounds preceded their regular season with an exhibition game against the Belmont Bruins. This year the Sounds won the contest 4-1 in seven innings.

BOX SCORE

[brewcrew82]

April 3rd @ New Orleans

The Sounds struggled to turn baserunners into runs in their Opening Day contest against the New Orleans Zephyrs at Zephr Field, going down 5-2 despite collecting 10 hits. With the exception of short stop Ozzy Chavez all the Sounds starters got a base hit, with Adam Heether (third base) and Abrahan Nunez (second base) collecting two hits apiece.

Brendon Katin drove in Vinny Rottino in the fourth inning with an RBI double, but failed to capitalise on having second and third and only one out.
In the ninth, with the game almost a foregone conclusion, Abraham Nunez drove in Adam Heether for the Sounds only other run of the night.

Sounds starter Zach Jackson took the loss, going six innings whilst giving up four runs on eight hits whilst fanning two.

BOX SCORE

Sounds current record: 0-1

[brewcrew82]

April 4th @ New Orleans

The Sounds once again went down to New Orleans in their seaosn opening series at Zephyr Field, this time falling 7-5.

The news of interest coming from this game was that Yovanni Gallardo made the rehab start for the Sounds. He went four innings, throwing 75 pitches (50 strikes). Allowing three runs on six hits whilst walking one and striking out five. Reliever Jason Shiel took the loss after giving up three earned in 1 and a third innings.

On the offensive side of things, Laynce Nix collected three hits whilst left fielder Hernan Irrabarren collected two hits along with Brad Nelson, Ozzy Chavez and Brendon Katin. Gallardo and Russel Branyon each had one hit for the Sounds.
Nix and Katin both drove in two runs whilst Abraham Nunez got the other RBi on a ground out in the eighth inning.

BOX SCORE

Sounds current record: 0-2

[brewcrew82]

April 5th @ New Orleans

Really not much to report on from todays game with the Sounds once again going down to the Zephyrs. This time by a score of 2-0.

The Sounds were 5-hit on the day, whilst striking out 11 times.

Starter Chris Narveson took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits in five innings.

Word out of Nashville is that Yovanni Gallardo will likely start two more games for the Sounds before returning to the Major League roster.

BOX SCORE

Sounds current record: 0-3

[brewcrew82]

April 6th @ Nashville

What a difference a day makes! After being blanked yesterday, the Sounds in turn shut out the Zephyrs 4-0 in their series finale.

Four Sounds pitchers combined to limit New Orleans to just three hits on the day. Starter Nic Ungs (win) gave up the three hits in his five innings, whilst relievers Steve Bray, Tim Dillard and Melqui Torres threw four no-hit innings in relief.

Catcher Vinny Rottino did most of the damage for the Sounds hitting a solo shot in the fourth inning off of New Orleans starter Joselo Diaz. He also drove in runs on sacrafice flies in the sixth and eighth innings.
The fourth run was scored after Russel Branyan stole home (!) in the eighth inning.

BOX SCORE

The Sounds start their series at Oklahoma tomorrow.

Sounds current record: 1-3

[brewcrew82]

April 7th @ Oklahoma

The disappointing start to the season by the Sounds continued tonight going down to the Oklahoma Redhawks 6-1 in their series opener at the Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

For a team who last year set the PCL record for fielding percentage their defense was below average this evening, committing 3 errors in the game.

Hernan Iribarren scored the Sounds lone run of the game in the top of the first inning after scoring on Vinny Rottino's ground out.
For the Redhawks, former Brewer Kevin Mench had two doubles, two runs scored and one run driven in.

Sounds starter Lindsay Gulin had a brief outing. Giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The series continues from Oklahoma City tomorrow night, starting at 7:05pm central time.

BOX SCORE

Sounds current record: 1-4