Three straight Sounds homers in ninth stun ‘Cakes

METAIRIE – The Nashville Sounds led off the top of the ninth inning with three consecutive home runs off New Orleans closer R.J. Alvarez, stunning the Baby Cakes with a 6-5 come-from-behind win.

The ‘Cakes held a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning before Nashville flexed its muscle with home runs from Carlos Tocci, Tyler Pill, Patrick Wisdom and Matt Davidson, preventing New Orleans from moving 10 games above .500 for the first time since late in the 2012 season.

Nashville strung together three straight singles against ‘Cakes starter Joe Gunkel in the first inning, the last of which by Andy Ibanez drove in the game’s first run. Tyler Pill followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Sounds a 2-0 edge.

Monte Harrison was given the green light on a 3-0 count in the bottom half of the frame and sent a home run over the fence in right-center field, his ninth of the year, to slice the deficit in half.

An inning later, Deven Marrero doubled with one out and came around to score the tying run on a throwing error by Ibanez.

Gunkel worked out of a fourth-inning jam to keep the game deadlocked before Jordan Milbrath came out of the bullpen and retired each of the first nine batters he faced, keeping the game deadlocked until the Baby Cakes worked some two-out magic in the sixth.

Isan Diaz singled to right and Yangervis Solarte walked ahead of Brinson’s ninth home run of the year which traveled 427 feet to straightaway center field to provide the ‘Cakes with their first lead.

Milbrath allowed a solo homer to Tocci in the eighth, and Alvarez (1-4), looking for his 11th save to move into the Pacific Coast League lead, served up three home runs in a row to open the ninth. It was Alvarez’s fifth blown save of the year and the Baby Cakes’ 15th overall.

David Carpenter had no such issues in the bottom of the ninth, recording his ninth save in as many attempts by retiring the ‘Cakes in order. Miguel Del Pozo (2-1) was credited with the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

The ‘Cakes and Sounds resume the five-game set on Saturday at 6 p.m.