Adams’ Grand Slam, Crow’s Quality Start Lift Sounds Past Knights 7-6

NASHVILLE, TN — A five-run outburst in the second inning — capped by Luke Adams’ first-hit-of-the-year grand slam — put the Nashville Sounds in front early, and a gutsy outing from Coleman Crow helped Nashville hold off a late Charlotte rally for a 7-6 victory Friday night at First Horizon Park.

The crowd of 7,892 watched the Sounds jump on the board in dramatic fashion. With the bases loaded and one out in the second, Charlotte’s Duncan Davitt plated Freddy Zamora on a hit-by-pitch. Two batters later, Adams — the Brewers’ No. 13 prospect — turned a hanging slider into history, lofting a 397-foot blast into the left-field seats to make it 5-0. The grand slam was Adams’ first hit of the season after an 0-for-15 start, and his first homer since June 15 of last year at Double-A Biloxi. It was the third grand slam of his pro career and a thunderbolt that gave Nashville its biggest inning of 2026 to date.

On the mound, Coleman Crow was efficient and composed. He retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out three while working quickly through Charlotte’s lineup. Crow finished with six innings pitched, four hits and two runs allowed, five strikeouts and two walks — his first Triple-A win and his first quality start at this level. The outing continued a personal trend: Crow has turned in a quality start each time he’s gone at least six innings in his professional career.

Charlotte chipped away but never fully erased the deficit. After Crow gave up a run on a fielder’s choice in the fourth and a two-out RBI triple in the fifth, Jeferson Quero pushed the margin back out with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth off Chase Plymell, a 93-mph drive that scored Tyler Black after Black’s hustle beat out a would-be double-play grounder. That made it 7-2 and gave Nashville breathing room.

Infielder Jett Williams — in his first season with Nashville and already a difference-maker on the base paths — continued to show why the Sounds acquired him. Williams went 1-for-5 and swiped his fourth stolen base of the year, moving into the team lead and tying for the International League lead in steals. His speed and base running were on display earlier in the game when Tyler Black beat out a potential inning-ending double play to bring Williams to the plate for Quero’s two-run shot. Williams arrived in Nashville off a strong 2025 at Double-A Binghamton (.281, 99-for-352, 10 homers, 34 extra-base hits) and a history of contact, plate discipline and speed — attributes that make him a tough out and a constant threat once he reaches base.

The Knights, did not go quietly. Joe Corbett, making his season debut in relief of Crow, surrendered three runs in the seventh after Nashville’s starter exited with the quality start in hand. Aggressive base running nearly produced more for Charlotte — Darren Baker was thrown out attempting to steal home in the same frame — a play that proved costly for the visitors as they may have keep momentum if not for the out.

Charlotte continued pressing in the late innings. A leadoff triple in the eighth off Peter Strzelecki and a two-out single by Jacob Gonzalez cut the deficit to 7-6, but Strzelecki escaped without further damage. Will Childers worked a one-two-three ninth before yielding a single to Oliver Dunn; Childers then closed the door with a four-pitch strikeout of Gonzalez to record his first save of the year and seal the win.

The triumph gives Nashville at least a series split; the club will look to take the series Saturday night when LHP Tate Kuehner (1-0, 1.59) draws the start against Charlotte’s RHP Tanner McDougal (0-0, 2.25). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT.