Nashville Walked Off Despite Three-Run Rally in Ninth, Falls 5-4 to Memphis

MEMPHIS, TN - The Nashville Sounds suffered a heartbreaking, second straight walk-off loss to the Memphis Redbirds on Wednesday night at AutoZone Park, dropping a 5-4 decision after a ninth-inning rally nearly delivered a comeback victory.

Colton Gordon put together another strong outing, recording his second quality start of the season and fifth overall, but it wasn’t enough to hold back Memphis’ powerful offense. Gordon retired five of the first six batters to open the game, and the Sounds even came close to scoring early. After recording baserunners, including hits by Ethan Murray and Eduardo Garcia plus three walks, Nashville stranded four runners through the early portion of the contest and entered the fifth inning still scoreless.

The Sounds finally broke the tie in the sixth. With two outs, Luke Adams doubled into left-center field for his ninth extra-base hit of the season. Jeferson Quero followed with a single to left, driving Adams home for a 1-0 lead. However, Memphis answered in the same frame after Gordon allowed back-to-back singles. A costly baserunning moment swung momentum when Nashville attempted to pick off Victor Scott II attempting to steal third, and the play went awry as Scott crossed the plate. Nolan Gorman then crushed a two-run homer in the right field, giving the Redbirds a 3-1 lead.

Gordon finished 6.0 innings with eight hits, three runs (two earned), four strikeouts, and two walks before being replaced by major league rehabber Joel Kuhnel in the seventh. Kuhnel got through a scoreless inning, and Kaleb Bowman later allowed Memphis to add an insurance run in the eighth.

Nashville’s offense refused to go quietly in the ninth. The first four batters reached base against Blake Holub, including a hit-by-pitch and two additional walks loaded the bases. Bo Naylor drove in Adams with an RBI single, then Ethan Murray followed with a sacrifice fly to pull Nashville within one. After Jacob Hurtubise pinch-ran and advanced twice, Luis Matos beat the throw for an infield single that plated Black to tie the game at four with one out.

But Memphis delivered in the bottom half. Holub retired the first batter, yet Brody Moore doubled and served as the winning run. A later single by Noah Mendlinger ended the contest as the Sounds dropped the game on a walk-off.

The Sounds and Redbirds continue the series Thursday evening at 6:45 p.m., with RHP Coleman Crow scheduled to start for Nashville.