The baseball season continues to have its share of nooks and crannies and the last road trip to New Orleans and Albuquerque was no exception. If you read the title, it was true on both counts. Although there was no fire in Albuquerque, there was the smoke from the neighboring state of Arizona where the wildfires were taking place. That was not the only smoke that was taking place. There was smoke coming off the flaming hot bats of the Nashville Sounds.
It was a road trip for the ages. There were at least three players who had two homer games. On five different occasions, the Sounds scored six runs or more in one inning. They also had two four-homer games. No question that this was not a boring road trip by any means.
For the Sounds' first leg of their road trip, it was their final trip to New Orleans this season. Whew, it was great to great away from the combined heat and humidity and not to mention those annoying cicadas that flew around Nashville during the last homestand. The previous homestand ended on a positive note with the Sounds not only winning their last 2 home games against the Iowa Cubs, but for the first time in my life, I witnessed a triple play-LIVE! Not only as a fan, but as a broadcaster. It was in the 7th inning and the Sounds were winning when the I-Cubs had two on and nobody out. Scott Moore was the batter and he proceeded to hit a sinking line drive which Sounds' Shortstop Edwin Maysonet grabbed! He was so close to the bag at second that I sensed something special would happen. I was right. The base runner at second base, Bryan LaHair was way off the bag at second and Maysonet proceeded to step on the bag there to double off LaHair. Then I'm thinking that the rarity would happen. A TRIPLE PLAY! Maysonet threw onto first and the base runner there, Ty Wright, could not get back to the first base bag in time, so it was a 6-3 Triple Play! The crowd, needless to say, went nuts! The triple-killing occurred in the seventh inning on Friday, June 2nd at Greer Stadium as the Sounds gained a split in their 4-game set by winning over Iowa, 5-1.
Then it was on to New Orleans and Sounds' veteran left hander, Sam Narron took the mound and continued to pitch well. He hurled 5.2 scoreless innings as Nashville won the opener, 6-1. Narron didn't disappoint with the bat as he collected a single and a double in the game. It was also great to see Erick Almonte do what he always does well. Erick came off the bench and delivered a big two-run double in the 8th inning to ensure the Sounds' victory over the Zephyrs at Zephyr Field.
The second game of the series was a relief for Amaury Rivas. It seems like whenever he pitches against the Zephyrs, he owns them. On that night, Rivas won for the first time since April 22nd and at, of all places, New Orleans. Rivas had his command despite giving up a run in the first inning. At one stretch, Rivas had retired 8 in a row, despite throwing a season high 110 pitches. He got huge help in the first inning when Taylor Green hit a tremendous grand slam home run over the right field wall. No one in the Zephyrs outfield had to move as the ball left the park as it soon it left Green's bat. It was the first grand slam for the Sounds this year as they scored six of their runs in the first inning and won it, 7-1.
Monday, June 6th was one game for the ages as the Sounds pounded out 18 hits and scored a season high 19 runs in their 19-1 win over the Zephyrs. It was a big night for Catcher George Kottaras, as he joined the elite group of 2011 Sounds players by belting two home runs in that game. Third Baseman Zelous Wheeler got into the act with a 3 run homer of his own. It was great to see Wheeler back in action as he missed two months of the season due to a leg injury. Erick Almonte had a career high seven runs batted in, which included a 2-run single, a 3-run homer and a two run double. It was also a night to remember as Sounds' starter Frankie De La Cruz FINALLY picked up his first win, but pitched as if he didn't need all of those runs. In fact, he didn't. De La Cruz hurled seven scoreless innings and got relief help from Chase Wright and Sean Green as each threw one inning to seal the deal. The win was also the Sounds' fifth in a row, as they had their longest streak of the year.
The Sounds were hoping to get their first sweep of the year and yes, I was kind of getting real greedy with the team building up such momentum, but unfortunately, the Sounds couldn't pull it off. Josh Butler started and he had his ups and downs. With the score tied at 3-3 in the 5th inning, Butler proceeded to walk the first three batters and it has been the walks that have been the Sounds' occasional downfall this year. Two of the Zephyr players who walked, would eventually score and gave New Orleans a 5-3 lead. Taylor Green would hit his 2nd homer of the series in the 8th inning, a solo shot over the right field wall. It would turn out to be the Sounds' final run of the season as they came up short, 5-4 in the finale. Oh well. At least three out of four wasn't bad at all. In fact, it was great.
The Sounds would have the evening off since it was a day game and they wouldn't have to fly to Albuquerque until the next day and that was an off-day. As much as I would have liked to travel the night before, I still couldn't complain. We flew to Albuquerque the next morning and knowing we would have a day off. It was also nice to meet up with an old friend of mine, whom I have not seen since my high days growing up in Brooklyn, New York City. My friend has lived in the Albuquerque area for almost 20 years and did mention to me about the smoke that was coming to New Mexico because of winds blowing it toward his state. It just so happens that a wildire was taking place in Arizona and he warned me about it. Luckily, the skies were clear the following day, so we made it to Albuquerque without any problems. On Thursday night, we would start a 4-game set against the Albuquerque Isotopes. I was enjoying a nice dinner with my friend on Wednesday night when we notice the smoke coming in. You could not see the mountains. In fact, when our bus driver picked us up at the airport on that Wednesday, June 8th, he mentioned to us that the conditions were much worse a few days earlier. However, that night, at 8PM in the evening, you couldn't see the mountains like you normally do and the smoke was bad! Not enough to choke me, but bad enough. I even smelled it in the hallway of our hotel that I decided and had to put a towel at the crack of my door and that seemed to work as the smoke STAYED OUT! I had no trouble sleeping that night because of my idea of covering the crack. The smoke did not seep in, but the smell of it did!
Anyway, there was more smoke, like I said, the next night and it came from the Sounds' bats. They won their 2nd lopsided game of the road trip, 14-1 over the Albuquerque Isotopes. The Sounds tied a season-high record with 20 hits and Caleb Gindl joined in the two homer in one game act with a two run shot in the first inning and three run shot in the third. Both blasts went over the left center field wall. Gindl told me that he never hit 2 homers in one game in his life prior to that particular night. George Kottaras had his third homer of the road trip in the first inning. Mark DiFelice made his 2nd start of the year and he showed WHY he earned his spot in the rotation. DiFelice threw five scoreless innings and allowed four hits while walking just one and fanning five. If he keeps it up, he will definitely earn another shot at the big leagues! I was praying for a shutout, but it was not to be as Albuquerque Outfielder and Dodgers' prospect, Trayvon Robinson extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single with two outs in the 9th, but the Sounds still won it and they had a 4-1 start to the road trip.
Unfortunately, that opening win would turn out to be the last win for the Sounds on their road trip as they proceeded to drop the next three games. The following night was tough because the Sounds trailed, 6-3 in the 7th inning when they tied it with 3 runs in the inning and that included a two-run homer by Sounds' First Baseman and Brewers' Top Prospect, Mat Gamel. Sean Green came on in the 10th inning and--you guessed it--Trayvon Robinson won the game with a walk-off homer. The round-tripper would extend his hitting streak to 12 games! The guy is a machine! Amaury Rivas pitched in Game 3 and started off well by pitching quality ball in the first two innings. However, he proceeded to walk six batters over the next 3 innings as the Isotopes prevailed, 5-2. Trayvon Robinson, who was really starting to become the Sounds' main nemesis, walked in a run to give the 'Topes a 3-2 lead and then he added insurance with a two-run double in the 7th inning off the usually effective and reliable Mike McClendon, who just didn't have it that night and everyone has those nights. In fact, McClendon was caught up in a numbers game at the big league level when Zach Braddock was activated on the Brewers' big league roster and since McClendon hadn't pitched much for the big club in recent days, was the odd man out. As always, McClendon showed the grace, positive attitude and professionalism that has made him a class individual and not to mention, he has the talent to pitch in the majors for years to come! McClendon is always willing to adapt to the situation and that's why he is an outstanding professional! Mat Gamel continued to show why he is on the Brewers' radar as he belted a home run in the 9th inning, but it wasn't enough as the Sounds lost, 5-2. The game was pushed up to 4:35PM Mountain Time because of the report that more smoke would come in from Arizona that night. Later that night, it wasn't the case, but I don't blame the Isotopes' management for making the decision. It showed how responsible and professional they are because they wanted to be on the safe side. You can't blame them for that. The Isotopes wanted to ensure the health and safety of the players as well as the fans and everyone else who was at Isotopes Park that night. They still had a great crowd and also had a nice fireworks show, even though it was not completely dark.
The final game was on Sunday, June 12th and it was ONE FOR THE AGES. The Sounds lost a wild one, 16-14, but were up 14-9 in the seventh. However, the bullpen could not hang on to the lead as the Isotopes scored 5 runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie it at 14-14 and then they scored twice in the following inning to take the lead for good! The Sounds had the lead at least 3 times, but they were not able to hang on to the lead.
The Sounds had their 2nd 4-home run game of the year and Taylor Green had his 2nd two-homer game of the year. His 2 run shot in the 7th game the Sounds a 14-9 lead. The inning was also highlighted by Erick Almonte's pinch hit home run leading off the inning and giving Nashville a 10-9 lead. It was a tremendous blast as it cleared the bullpen and left field bleachers. Edwin Maysonet also had a bunt single that also knocked in a run in the inning. Caleb Gindl would extend his hitting streak to 12 games with a home run in the third inning. It was preceded by Taylor Green's first homer of the game. In the bottom of the 7th, disaster struck as the Isotopes scored five times with two outs to tie the game at 14-14. Albuquerque took the lead for good in the 8th inning when Jerry Sands doubled home Eugenio Velez and Sands scored when Russ Mitchell collected his fifth RBI of the game with a base hit to left. It was also a big day for Trayvon Robinson again, as he went 4 for 5 with four runs batted in.
The loss was a disappointed end to what started out as a promising road trip as the Sounds finished up their journey at 4-4. It was a memorable road trip as the Sounds still managed to pound out 15 home runs. Then they would head home to take on the Round Rock Express at Greer Stadium on Monday, July 13th. I will have another blog coming up on the series with the Round Rock Express. Until then, I bid farewell. I hope you come on out to support the Sounds when they play Round Rock as they look to gain revenge after being swept by them in Round Rock earlier this year. As always, thank you for reading!
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