Nashville Sounds take last game in opening weekend series in Norfolk

Photo / by Nishant Brahme

NORFOLK, VA — The Nashville Sounds secured their first win of the young season Sunday, taking the finale of their opening weekend series in Norfolk with a 6–2 victory over the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park.

Timely hitting, aggressive base-running and steady pitching fueled the comeback win. Nashville plated an early run in the first inning when Jett Williams was hit by a pitch, stole second and later scored on a throwing error by catcher Silas Ardoin during a Cooper Pratt steal attempt. The Sounds added an insurance cushion in the fifth when Tyler Black reached to load the bases and Eddys Leonard ripped a two-run double to right, pushing the lead to 3–0.

Left-hander Tate Kuehner delivered one of the night’s better outings for Nashville in his third Triple-A start, allowing just one run on two hits over 5.2 innings while striking out five. Norfolk’s lone run against Kuehner came in the fifth on a two-out triple, a walk and a wild pitch. The Sounds answered in the sixth with their biggest inning: Greg Jones was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a Norfolk error before scoring as Nashville combined smart baserunning and continued defensive miscues by Norfolk to extend the advantage to 6–1.

Norfolk added a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Jud Fabian, but Garrett Stallings (1.1 innings of relief, one run allowed, two strikeouts) and Kaleb Bowman (scoreless eighth) closed the door on a Tides comeback. Tyler Black and Eddys Leonard each drove in two runs to lead the Nashville offense, while Williams set the tone atop the lineup with another high-effort game and a stolen-base finish.

Postgame notes

Puttin’ on the Jetts: Jett Williams continues to be a catalyst on the base paths, recording a stolen base in each of the Sounds’ first three games of the season. He is now tied with teammate Greg Jones for the International League lead with steals in three straight games. Williams swiped 34 bases in 2025 between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse and totaled 45 steals across three levels in 2023.

That’s Pratt of the deal: Cooper Pratt extended his hit streak to three games, going 1-for-5 on Sunday. Pratt and Williams are currently tied for the team lead in consecutive-game hitting streaks.

New season, same Stallings: Garrett Stallings, a former Norfolk Tide (2023–2024), allowed one run over 1.1 innings while striking out two. The Heathsville, Va., native faced his old club with poise and added to a resume that includes a previous win over Norfolk.

Hit or be hit: Nashville collected seven hits and was hit by pitches four times Sunday — the first time the Sounds had four players plunked in a single game since July 21, 2019, versus the Iowa Cubs.

What’s next

The Sounds now head home to open their first homestand of the 2026 season on Tuesday, March 31 against the Charlotte Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT at First Horizon Park.