Zach Neal Suffers First Loss of the Season
Oklahoma City, OK – For the first time this season Sounds’ starter Zach Neal was beaten, as Oklahoma City defeated Nashville 6-4 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Saturday night.
Neal had five wins in as many appearances with Nashville posting a 1.60 ERA entering tonight’s action, including a win over Oklahoma City at First Tennessee Park on April 24th. After giving up just six runs all season, the Dodgers matched that total, knocking the Sounds’ starter out of the game with just one out in the fifth.
In addition to home runs, the outfielder leads the sounds in most of the major offensive categories including AVG (.307) and RBI (37).
The Sounds cut the deficit in half in the seventh inning courtesy of a pair of Dodgers’ miscues. After Bryan Anderson doubled to extend his hitting streak to a season-best six games, Alden Carrithers hit a routine grounder to second that Hector Olivera fired by Dodgers first baseman Andy Wilkins allowing Anderson to score. Carrithers took second on the play and later moved to third. He then scored when Matt West threw a wild pitch.
A pair of Nashville right-handers put the Sounds in a position to attempt a comeback. Dan Otero threw 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for Neal, while R.J. Alvarez looked particularly dominant striking out the side in the eighth. The Sounds scored a run in the ninth via a Niuman Romero RBI single, but that was all they could muster as they fell for the third time in as many nights in Oklahoma City.
The Sounds will send Brad Mills to the mound as they look to avoid the sweep tomorrow night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. He will be opposed by Deck McGuire. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05pm.
