RedHawks Hold Off Nashville In Opener

The Oklahoma City RedHawks managed to put up enough offense early to hold off a late push from the Nashville Sounds 7-5 Wednesday, avoiding their third-straight loss in the process.

Oklahoma City (9-4) jumped out to an early lead, thanks to three home runs in the first five innings of the game, solo shots from Justin Ruggiano and Brian Bixler and a two-run shot from Scott Moore to take a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

The RedHawks continued to pour it on in the top of the sixth, thanks to a fly ball single to Fernando Martinez, who scored three at-bats later on a ground out to take a 7-2 lead.

However, Nashville (4-9) would not go away quietly and got the offense going late in the game. Still trailing by five runs in the bottom of the eighth, Brooks Conrad went yard over the right field wall with Edwin Maysonet on base to cut the lead to 7-4 heading into the ninth inning.

In the bottom of the ninth with one out on the board, Sean Halton reached base on a fielding error and advanced to third thanks to a line-drive single in the next at-bat. Eric Farris grounded into a force out, allowing Halton to score, however Hainley Statie flied out in the next at-bat to end the game.

Dallas Keuchel (3-0) was credited with a win for the RedHawks, giving up just two earned runs on five hits in his seven innings pitched for Oklahoma City. Mark Rogers (0-1) received a loss, giving up two runs on three hits in just three innings.

Oklahoma City will try to make it three in a row in a double-header Thursday, starting at 6:05 p.m. due to yesterday's rain out.