Sounds Win Again as Five-Run First Puts Them Past Knights 6-3

NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville struck early and kept the pressure on all night, defeating the Charlotte Knights 6-3 Saturday at First Horizon Park in front of another sellout crowd. The Sounds used a five-run first inning to take control, then leaned on effective bullpen work to claim their second straight win and improve to a 15-17 record in the second half.

The game turned in the opening frame. Nashville manager Rick Sweet watched his club survive a tense situation on the mound—after forcing a bases-loaded jam, the Sounds allowed just one hit and escaped the inning despite throwing 31 pitches. Almost immediately, the offense responded. Carlos Rodriguez received run support from a lineup that batted through the order against major league rehabber Tyler Gilbert, scoring five runs on five hits to build a commanding 5-0 lead.

Luis Matos ignited the rally with a leadoff double. Tyler Black followed with a two-RBI double down the left-field line, and Andrick Nava added a two-RBI single. Freddy Zamora capped the inning with his first triple of the season, driving in Nava to finish the five-run outburst. Rodriguez’s night ended quickly in the second inning, but Nashville’s early cushion proved more than enough.

The Sounds’ pitching unit played its part, with newly added right-hander Jack Seppings making his Triple-A debut in relief. Seppings retired the first three hitters he faced, and he strung together six straight outs before a walk in the fourth and a bunt single threatened again. He closed with 3+ scoreless frames, working around multiple baserunners and recording three strikeouts.

Charlotte did make it interesting, scoring later on a two-run home run by Riley Unroe and another shot in the ninth, but Nashville answered with enough defensive efficiency and bullpen composure to preserve the lead. The series wraps Sunday evening, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

For Sweet, the win was especially meaningful—career victory No. 2,496, tying Bob Coleman for the second-most in Minor League Baseball history.