Sal Frelick Sparks Early in Rehab, But Sounds Fall 7-5 to Norfolk Wednesday

NORFOLK, VA - The Nashville Sounds entered Wednesday night at Harbor Park hoping to build on momentum, but the Norfolk Tides answered quickly and held on for a 7-5 win over the Sounds. With the victory, Norfolk improved its advantage in the series as Nashville fell for the second straight game, despite a strong push from the offense late.

The story of the game started with Sal Frelick, who is continuing his rehab assignment and showed why his bat remains a difference-maker. Frelick launched a leadoff home run just three pitches into the contest, then added his second home run of the night later on. He finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in and capped the effort with another hit and RBI in the fifth—his first multi-hit performance in eight games while working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in mid-July.

On the mound, Thomas Pannone looked sharp early, but Norfolk’s bats erupted in the second. The Tides strung together hits and capitalized on a rough frame for Nashville, scoring three runs after collecting three hits in the inning. The game swung further in the third, when Nashville committed four errors, allowing Norfolk to run the score up to 7-1. Pannone exited after 2.1 innings with seven runs (four earned) charged across five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Relief efforts helped stabilize the late damage. Lyon Richardson followed and delivered 2.2 scoreless innings, keeping the Sounds from falling further behind.

Nashville stayed alive offensively, cutting into the deficit in the fifth and sixth. The Sounds scored when Brock Wilken and Eric Brown Jr. delivered singles to set up RBI chances for Frelick. Later, Akil Baddoo drove in a run with a hit, and Ethan Murray answered with a two-run homer—his first long ball since June 18 on the road in Memphis—pulling Nashville closer heading into the later innings.

Still, Norfolk’s bullpen protected the lead. After a couple of baserunners were left stranded in the seventh and eighth, the Sounds managed only one final push. Codi Heuer, now pitching for Norfolk, earned the save with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

The series continues Thursday afternoon at 11:05 a.m. CT, with RHP Coleman Crow (7-1, 3.39 ERA) scheduled to start for Nashville.