Sounds’ Oxspring fuels win against 51s

The 51s scored three runs in the ninth inning, but the rally came far too late in a 6-3 Pacific Coast League loss to the Nashville Sounds on Thursday night in Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville starter Chris Oxspring (4-3) kept the 51s in check, allowing only two hits in seven innings, with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Matt Kemp singled to open the ninth for Las Vegas, and Mitch Jones followed with a two-run homer off reliever Dennis Sarfate. After Delwyn Young struck out, Sergio Garcia homered off Sarfate.

Sarfate then allowed a Luis Maza single before getting Ken Huckaby to fly out and striking out Choo Freeman to end the game.

Nashville (29-25) got all the runs it needed in a four-run fourth inning. Laynce Nix singled with one out, Joe Dillon followed with a double, and Andy Abad's groundout scored Nix.

Brad Nelson's ground-rule double to left-center brought Dillon in, and Vinny Rottino hit a two-run homer off 51s starter William Juarez (1-2) to make it 4-0.

The Sounds added two runs in the seventh off reliever Greg Miller.

Nix hit a one-out double and scored when Nelson drew a bases-loaded walk. Rottino's sacrifice fly then made it 6-0.

The 51s (24-29) continue their series with Nashville today, then head to Memphis for a four-game series against the Redbirds.