Well, a couple of nights ago, the defending PCL Champion Memphis Redbirds stormed into town and probably wished they would have reversed direction and headed back on I-40, only to go West instead.
The Redbirds have been off to a slow start in 2010, albeit they have some fine young players in the likes of Outfielder Shane Robinson and Infielder Daniel Descalso.
The 2010 Nashville Sounds continued where they left off from the four-game sweep against the New Orleans Zephyrs in The Big Easy and have taken the first two games of the I-40 Tennessee Rivalry Series against the Redbirds. The Sounds won last night, 7-4 and have continued to be the best team in the league with a 16-6 record and extending their winning streak to a season-high seven games. It was nice to see Outfielder Adam Stern make his first start in a game since he injured himself on April 9th in Des Moines, Iowa and he showed why he got a good and long look in Spring Training by the parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers. Stern collected three hits last night, including an RBI late in the game for major insurance. Starting Pitcher Chuck Lofgren had another quality start and picked up his club-leading fourth win of the season. Lofgren has taken advantage of getting a new lease on life with the Brewers after spending his entire career with the Cleveland Indians organization prior to this season.
What really impressed me about last night’s game was the determination, moxie and clutch pitching from reliever John Axford. After giving up a bases-loaded walk to Descalso that cut the Sounds’ lead to 5-4 in the eighth inning, Axford got tough when he struck out leftfielder Allen Craig and got first baseman Mark Hamilton to pop out to Shortstop Luis Cruz, leading the bases loaded for Memphis. The Sounds would get insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth and held on to win the game. Closer Chris Smith picked up his PCL-leading tenth save with a 1-2-3 ninth, including a pair of strikeouts. Smith has pitched in the majors in the past with the Red Sox and Orioles and has showed why he can pitch. At the rate he is doing, he will get the callup to Milwaukee and so will anyone else in the Sounds’ bullpen, which continues to be outstanding.
This Sounds team has continued to click despite not having a fully healthy squad. Even with Stern back in the lineup, both Brendan Katin and Eric Farris are sidelined with injuries. Once those two come back, watch out! It will get even more serious with this Sounds team.
Last night, it was another Reading Club Night at the ballpark. It was nice to see so many people parade around the track on the field prior to the game at Greer Stadium. It is a nice and unique way to honor these young people since the Sounds implemented this popular program. I encourage youngsters to read whenever they can. Not only are they maximizing their potential as students, but also help themselves in the future once they enter the workforce.
As I am typing now, it is raining outside my home. It would be such a shame if Mother Nature dampens the Sounds’ spirits with more rain since the club has played so well and that tonight is a Fireworks Show after the ballgame. For those of you who have not formulated your plans for tonight, I encourage you to come out and see the Sounds play Memphis at 6:35PM at Greer Stadium. The largest crowd of the season formed at the ballpark. 8,520 fans really got into the game and what I like about them is they love getting involved in singing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”. Sometimes the song would be turned in so the fans can chime in with “chorus words” of the song. It has become such a popular song throughout minor league parks around the country. It’s nice to see the fans happy and even though Greer Stadium is getting up there in years, it doesn’t seem like the fans care. They’re happy with the product (credit goes to the Sounds’ staff here) and the product on the field with the ballclub playing solid and fundamental baseball.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast on radio on Nashville’s 104.5 The Zone (WGFX-FM) and atwww.nashvillesounds.com. I still encourage you to come out tonight and take your radios with you. If you can’t make it to the game, then we look forward to seeing you tune in to the broadcast. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and keep supporting the Sounds. Hopefully Mother Nature will do so by making the rain go away. Please come back another day! Especially when the Sounds are on the road! Thank you as always!
- Posted on May 1, 2010 at 10:36 am
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