RedHawks' Streak Ends Thanks to Huge Late Rally

Originally Published: Jun 18, 2010 10:27 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Nashville Sounds used a scoring barrage at the end of the game to defeat the Oklahoma City RedHawks 10-4 Friday in the first contest of a four-game series.

The RedHawks (38-29) went into the bottom of the seventh inning leading 4-3, but it was all Nashville from there.

The Sounds (36-31) struck quickly in the seventh, thanks to a leadoff double Trent Oeltjen followed by an RBI single from Mat Gamel. After a single and sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, Luis Cruz delivered a two-run single to take a 6-4 lead.

Nashville followed that with another big inning in the eighth. Oeltjen started the scoring with an RBI single, after which a walk and hit batter loaded the bases with two outs. Erick Almonte drove all three runners home with a double to finish the scoring at 10-4.

The RedHawks struggled to manufacture runs all night, with all four scores coming on home runs. Mitch Moreland gave OKC an early lead with a solo home run in the second inning, but the Sounds quickly erased the advantage with back-to-back doubles to start the bottom of the frame.

Down 3-1 in the seventh, Chad Tracy put Oklahoma City back on top with a three-run bomb. But once again, Nashville immediately responded to take back the lead, this time for good.

Tanner Scheppers got the start for the RedHawks, his second since being introduced to the starting rotation. His second stint did not go as well as his first. He lasted only 3.2 innings and gave up three runs on five hits and three walks, but did not receive a loss.

Zachary Phillips (1-1) was credited with the loss after managing to get only one out, and that was on a sacrifice bunt. He entered in the seventh inning and the first three hitters he faced all eventually came around to score.

Mitch Stetter (2-1) was given the win despite pitching only one inning and surrendering Tracy’s homer that gave Oklahoma City the late lead. After Stetter’s exit, Brian Bruney and Jeff Bennett combined to give up just two hits in the final two innings.

The loss ends a five-game winning streak for OKC, which included a four-game series sweep of the New Orleans Zephyrs. The RedHawks will try to rebound in the second game of the series 6:35 p.m. Saturday.