Gasser’s 11 K’s Go for Naught as Rain-Shortened Game Sees Sounds Fall 6-4 in Norfolk

Photo / Nashville Sounds

NORFOLK, VA — The Nashville Sounds opened their 2026 season with a tough, rain-shortened loss Friday night, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park.

Left-hander Robert Gasser was spectacular for Nashville, fanning 11 over 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits and three walks. The Brewers’ No. 17 prospect tied his career high in strikeouts and kept the Sounds in front through nearly six frames, but did not figure in the decision.

Nashville struck first with three early runs. Luis Lara — the Brewers’ No. 12 prospect — drew a bases-loaded walk for the game’s first RBI in the top of the first. Cooper Pratt extended the lead with an RBI single in the second, and Greg Jones delivered an RBI knock in the third to make it 3-0. Lara later homered in the seventh, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI in his Triple-A debut.

The game turned in the bottom of the seventh. Sammy Peralta inherited a bases-loaded jam and allowed Norfolk’s first run on a walk, then surrendered consecutive hits that tied the game. A wild pitch and a subsequent run put the Tides ahead before they tacked on additional offense in a six-run frame. A 32-minute rain delay followed, and with play not resuming the game was called in Norfolk’s favor.

Despite the loss, the Sounds showcased several top prospects — Lara, Pratt and Jett Williams among them — and Greg Jones collected three hits in his organizational debut. Nashville will wrap up the short series Saturday night with RHP Coleman Crow making his third Triple-A start; first pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. CT at Harbor Park.