Fri. 3/29 - Sounds Drop Opener; Quero Injured

[Ro Mueller]

Hiura greets Holub with an infield single, then Blake walks the next batter and gets ripped off on his first pitch to Akil Baddoo.

Behind 1-0 in the count with 2-on, 1-out and nerves fraying for a new young pitcher? Nope. Sounds challenge and the strike call is reversed. Baddoo Ks a few pitches later. Nice job. 👍 

[Ro Mueller]

Toledo did manage to knock in one run off Holub with a 2-out single.

Now Brian Navarreto walks and Owen Miller hits his second double of the game with nobody out in the top of the 8th inning. Sounds trailing 4-2. Can we (please!) cash in this time? 

[Ro Mueller]

Nope. Foiled again. Wiemer Ks on 3 pitches. Hicklen walks to load the bases with 1 out. Capra took the count full, but ground into a double play. Ugh.

[Ro Mueller]

Now we get a look at LHP Rob Zastryzny, who turned 32 a few days ago. He was limited to 37 innings in the Pirates’ organization last year, split about evenly between MLB and AAA.

[Ro Mueller]

Nashville’s down to their final out trailing 4-2 with nobody on, but Yonny Hernandez lays down a first pitch bunt single. Tyler Black comes to the plate looking to salvage his day.

[Ro Mueller]

Black singles to center field and Brian Navarreto gets his shot to play hero.

[Ro Mueller]

…but it’s not meant to be as Navarreto pops out to Keston Hiura at first base.

Nashville loses its season opener 4-2 despite some solid bullpen work (Herget, Middendorf, Zastryzny), multi-hit games by Hicklen, Miller and Yonny-H, and Dorrian’s solo shot.

Now all eyes turn to the injury status of super-prospect C Jeferson Quero.

[Joseph Zarr]

Thanks for all the updates, Daniel! Very much appreciated.

[Ro Mueller]