MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -DES MOINES – The Nashville Sounds edged the Iowa Cubs by a 4-2 score on Thursday night at Principal Park in the finale of a four-game series, improving their PCL-best road record to 9-3 on the year.

Mat Gamel and Joe Koshansky each clubbed solo homers for Nashville and starting pitcher Mike Burns (4-0) threw seven innings of one-run baseball, his fifth consecutive quality start.

The Sounds claimed three of the four games at Principal Park this week and hold a 5-3 lead in the season series between the division rivals.

Iowa starter Esmailin Caridad (3-2) took the loss after surrendering just two runs on seven hits in seven innings of work.

After Gamel’s team-leading eighth homer gave the Sounds a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, Iowa’s Brad Snyder singled and Chris Robinson reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the inning. Doug Deeds launched a line drive toward the left field wall, but a fan reached over the wall to snag the drive and pull it into the stands. Deeds was awarded second base by virtue of a ground rule double but baserunner Robinson, who likely would have scored on the play, was sent back to third. Burns then retired Nate Spears and Andres Blanco to keep the game knotted 1-1.

Koshansky slugged his sixth roundtripper of the year in the top of the seventh to stake Nashville to a 2-1 advantage. He belted a leadoff solo shot to left-center off Caridad.

The Sounds padded their lead with two eighth-inning runs off Iowa reliever Jason Waddell. Tony Gwynn delivered a one-out RBI double and scored one batter later on an error to push the visitors’ lead to 4-1.

Jake Fox drove in a run in the bottom half of the eighth with an infield hit, but the Cubs were unable to complete a comeback as Nashville closer Chris Smith worked a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

The Sounds continue their road trip on Friday in Omaha, when they open a four-game series against the division-rival Royals with a 7:05 p.m. series opener. Left-hander Chase Wright (1-3, 5.74) will man the bump for Nashville to face Omaha southpaw Lenny DiNardo (1-1, 3.68).

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