SPORTS

Sounds mark first game in new park with walk-off win

David Ammenheuser
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
Max Muncy, top, celebrates with his teammates Jason Pridie (14), Ryan Cook (48) and Tyler Ladendorf after hitting an RBI double to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning.

A historic night deserved a memorable moment.

Max Muncy's double in the bottom of the 10th inning scored Billy Burns with the winning run, lifting the Nashville Sounds to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in front of a sellout crowd of 10,459 on the opening night of First Tennessee Park.

"What a beautiful night, the weather cooperated, the fans showed up, the ballpark shined. I don't think you could script it better than to have a walk-off (hit)," Sounds manager Steve Scarsone said. "What a better way than to let the people know we are in town."

Burns led off the 10th with a single. After Joey Wendle struck out, Muncy smacked a line drive into right field. The ball then ricocheted away from Sky Sox right fielder Shane Peterson, allowing Muncy to score all the way from first base.

"It was only fitting that it ends that way," Muncy said. "I was just trying to get a good pitch to put a good swing on. You don't got to do much when Burns is on. Just got to put the ball play."

Neither team had scored since the fourth inning.

Colorado Springs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning on Matt Clark and Ben Guez run-scoring singles.

Jason Pridie's two-run single accounted for the Sounds runs in the bottom of the inning. His single scored Wendle and Muncy, who had opened the inning with back-to-back walks.

The rest of the game belonged to the pitchers.

Nashville starter Arnold Leon pitched four innings, allowing the two runs. Pat Venditte pitched three shutout innings, Chad Smith pitched two shutout innings, then Ryan Cook blanked the Sky Sox in the 10th. Cook gained the win, improving his record to 2-0.

The four Sounds pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, seven by Leon. Colorado Springs had just two hits after the fourth inning.

The victory, which came at 10:25 p.m., ended a long day for the Sounds players and organizational staff.

The team left Oklahoma City early this morning, however their plane was delayed during a layover in Dallas.

The Sounds front office staff arrived as early as 6 a.m., busily preparing First Tennessee Park for its debut.

Reach Dave Ammenheuser at 615-259-8352 and on Twitter @NashSportsEd.