Sounds Hold Off RedHawks Rally

The Nashville Sounds built an early lead on a three-run home run by Hunter Morris and held on for a 5-3 win against the Oklahoma City RedHawks Friday in front of 6,345 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The RedHawks (13-9) made a late push, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but were unable to complete a comeback.

The Sounds (10-11) evened the series, 1-1, as their pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts, including 10 by starting pitcher Mike Fiers. Fiers (4-0) held Oklahoma City to one run and four hits over six innings in the win.

Trailing, 5-1, Kiké Hernandez led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single to left field for the RedHawks. Jonathan Meyer reached base on a fielding error and Andy Simunic singled to load the bases for Oklahoma City with none out.

Back-to-back RBI groundouts by Robbie Grossman and Ronny Torreyes cut the Sounds' lead to 5-3 with two outs before Nashville pitcher Rob Wooten got Gregorio Petit to pop out to end the game.

Nashville took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a three-run homer by Morris, which landed on the Devon Energy Deck in right field.

Hernandez belted his first home run with the RedHawks into the Oklahoma City bullpen in left field to cut Nashville's lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning.

Nashville quickly got the run back in the fifth inning. Eugenio Velez doubled on a line drive to right field to score Irving Falu, who got on base with a single. Falu went 3-for-5 to lead the Sounds Friday.

The Sounds added another run on a RBI double by Hector Gomez in the eighth inning to extend to a 5-1 lead.

RedHawks starting pitcher Jake Buchanan (1-2) was charged with the loss. He allowed three runs on six hits over four innings.

Andy Simunic went 3-for-4 to lead Oklahoma City.

Nashville and Oklahoma City continue their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.