Night Lights at First Horizon: Sounds Beat Knights 7–3 in Home Opener

Today in Nashville was a near-perfect spring evening for baseball — a warm, breezy day that eased into a clear, moonlit night — and First Horizon Park brimmed with fans eager for the Sounds’ home opener. The crowd soaked in the familiar pageantry: banners snapping in the breeze, the smell of grilling from the concourses, and the steady chorus of conversation and cheers that make a night at the ballpark feel like a neighborhood celebration. It was that full-senses kind of night: beer in hand, peanuts in the stands, and baseball on the field as Nashville beat Charlotte 7–3 and extended its early-season momentum.

NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Sounds defeated the Charlotte Knights, 7–3, in the first home game of the 2026 season Tuesday night, improving to 2–2 overall and handing the International League East leaders their first loss at 3–1. Three different Sounds recorded multi-hit games and two players drove in multiple runs as Nashville built an early advantage and held on behind a strong relief effort.

Charlotte struck first in the top of the first when William Bergolla Jr. ripped a double into left to make it 1–0. Nashville answered immediately. On a major-league rehab assignment Steward Berroa singled to right with one out, setting the stage for Tyler Black, who launched a two-run homer — his first of the season — to put the Sounds ahead 2–1.

Nashville grew the lead to 4–1 in the bottom of the third. Black added his second hit of the night with a single to right and Luis Lara followed with a two-out single that set up Brock Wilken for his first Triple-A hit and an RBI. The Knights cut the margin to 4–3 in the fourth when a pair of one-out singles and a run-scoring force play produced two runs, including one plated on a double-steal.

The Sounds answered for insurance in the fifth. Lara’s one-out single into center and a walk to Wilken set up Greg Jones, who crushed a two-RBI triple to plate both runners and extend the lead. Jones later scored on Luke Adams’ sacrifice fly, making it 7–3.

From there Nashville’s bullpen took over. Right-hander Logan Henderson delivered three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five. Left-hander Rob Zastryzny, on a rehab assignment after representing Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, worked a scoreless inning as well — surrendering one hit and recording one strikeout — in his first appearance since suffering a left rhomboid strain during the WBC. The bullpen retired the remaining innings to close out the ballgame and secure the victory.

Offensively, Tyler Black finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs as he continued an early hot stretch. Steward Berroa, in his first game with the team and first play since September produced a multi-hit night (2-for-5). Luis Lara also had a multi-hit performance and is off to a strong start, while Brock Wilken picked up his first Triple-A RBI and scored a run after starting the season 0-for-8 on the road.

Nashville returns to First Horizon Park Wednesday for the second game of the six-game series against Charlotte, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT. RHP Carlos Rodriguez is scheduled to make his first start of the season for the Sounds as the club looks to build on back-to-back wins and keep the momentum rolling in front of its Nashville supporters.