Sounds Fall Short in Ninth, Split Series with Jumbo Shrimp

JACKSONVILLE, FL – A ninth-inning rally came up just short as the Nashville Sounds dropped the series finale to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at VyStar Ballpark, settling for a series split.

The Sounds (28-28, 71-60) scored first for the third straight game. Tyler Black led off with a double and scored on Brock Wilken’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. Jacob Hurtubise later walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error to make it 2-0 in the second.

Jacksonville answered in the third when Garret Forrester hit a solo home run off Colton Gordon. Jeferson Quero restored the two-run cushion in the fourth with a solo blast to left, his third consecutive game with a home run. Quero became the first Sounds player this season to homer in three straight games and tied for the team lead with 15 home runs. He is one of just three players in Triple-A with an active streak of at least three games.

The Jumbo Shrimp (24-32, 66-64) took the lead for good in the sixth. Matthew Etzel tied the game with his fourth home run of the series, and Graham Pauley followed with a solo shot to put Jacksonville ahead 4-3. Gordon finished with four runs allowed on five hits, three home runs and a season-high nine strikeouts over six innings. Cameron Wagoner and Brett Wichrowski each tossed a scoreless frame.

Nashville mounted one final threat in the ninth. Hurtubise walked and advanced to third on Daniel Guilarte’s single. After Guilarte stole second, Eduardo Garcia flied out. Guilarte was then tagged out at third on a rundown before Hurtubise could score the tying run, ending the game.

Ethan Murray extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a hit, while Guilarte went 2-for-3 with three steals in his third consecutive multi-hit effort since joining the club.

After two weeks on the road, the Sounds return home Tuesday to face the Louisville Bats at First Horizon Park. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.