Gallen gallant against Sounds as Baby Cakes earn first win of season

METAIRIE – Zac Gallen pitched six scoreless innings in his Marlins organizational debut, and the New Orleans Baby Cakes rode a four-run first inning to a 5-1 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Friday night for their first win of the season.

Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason trade for Marcell Ozuna, Gallen (1-0) allowed just four hits without issuing a walk and struck out four. The seventh-rated prospect in the Marlins system worked around single by Jorge Mateo to open the game and a leadoff double by Anthony Garcia in the third, then struck out Nick Martini to strand a runner at third base in the sixth on the final batter he faced.

The Baby Cakes gave Gallen all the support he would need by batting around in the first inning, scoring four times to chase Sounds starter Frankie Montas.Back-to-back one-out doubles by Isaac Galloway and Jonathan Rodriguez plated the team’s first run of the year, and two batters later, a bases loaded walk to J.B. Shuck forced in another run.

Eric Campbell singled up the middle to extend the lead to 3-0, and despite Cristhian Adames getting thrown out at the plate, the night was over for Montas (0-1). Josh Lucas walked the next two batters to force in the fourth run of the opening frame.

Campbell added his second RBI single of the night in the third to cash in a leadoff double by Adames.

Nashville broke up the shutout bid in the eighth against Drew Rucinski when Dustin Fowler reached on a bases loaded fielder’s choice.

Jumbo Diaz needed only seven pitches, all strikes, to retire the side in order in the ninth and snap the Baby Cakes’ five-game home losing streak to the Sounds dating back to last season.

The third game of the series is Saturday at 6 p.m. as the ‘Cakes celebrate Boudreaux’s birthday with a T-shirt giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, courtesy of Service Master. Right-hander Sandy Alcantara, another piece of the Ozuna trade, will make his New Orleans debut opposite Trevor Cahill.