Monday was the last home opener at Turner Field, and Atlanta Braves fans were treated to quite a ballgame.

The home team fell behind early when reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper blasted a solo home run in the first inning, giving the Washington Nationals an early 1-0 lead.

It was a lead that wouldn’t last long, though. Freddie Freeman tied the score at 1-1 with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the first.

The teams would trade bases-empty home runs in the fourth inning as well.

The score remained 2-2 until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Braves donned their rally caps.

Jeff Francoeur scored the go-ahead run when Adonis Garcia drew a bases-loaded walk.

Jason Grilli came on in the ninth, looking to close the door. Unfortunately, the Nats loaded the bases and Grilli allowed a run on a sacrifice fly.

The Braves failed to score in the home half of the ninth, and Washington crossed one across the plate in the top of the 10th.

The Braves failed to score in the bottom of the 10th, and lost to Washington 4-3.

Julio Teheran got the start for Atlanta and scattered five hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked three. He was credited with a no-decision.

The Braves are back in action on Wednesday when they play host to Washington for a 6:10 PM first pitch. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of that contest beginning with the pregame show at 6 PM on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.

The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club has announced its tentative Opening Day roster for the 2016 season. The Sounds begin Pacific Coast League play on Thursday, April 7 when they welcome the Oklahoma City Dodgers to First Tennessee Park.
Eight players listed among Oakland’s top-20 prospects (according to Baseball America) will begin the season in Music City. They include: LHP Sean Manaea (No. 2), INF Renato Nunez (No. 4), OF Matt Olson (No. 6), INF Chad Pinder (No. 7), LHP Dillon Overton (No. 8), INF Max Muncy (No. 13), INF Rangel Ravelo (No. 15) and Joey Wendle (No. 17).
Led by Wendle, eight players who donned a Sounds uniform in 2015 will open the 2016 season on Nashville’s 25-man roster. The 25-year-old second baseman was named to the All-PCL team last year after he clubbed a franchise-record 42 doubles.
Manaea, 24, was acquired by the Athletics last July in a deadline trade that sent Ben Zobrist to Kansas City. In 14 starts last season, the Indiana native went 7-1 with a 2.66 ERA. Following the season, the southpaw pitched in the Arizona Fall League where he was named to the AFL All-Prospect Team and took part in the Rising Stars Game.
Nunez, 22, and Olson, 22, have played together since 2013, climbing through the A’s minor league system. Combined, the two have hit 143 home runs over the last three seasons. Last year, Nunez played in the MLB Futures Game and was named a Texas League mid-season All-Star. Olson, a one-time Vanderbilt commit, also played in the Futures Game and was named a Texas League mid-season All-Star.
Pinder, 24, was the Texas League Player of the Year in 2015 after he hit .317 with 86 RBI, 72 runs, 32 doubles and 15 home runs with Double-A Midland. The shortstop was drafted by Oakland in the Competitive Balance Round B (71st overall) out of Virginia Tech University in 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Overton, 24, went 7-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 27 games, including 25 starts, with Advanced-A Stockton and Midland in 2015. The left-hander was drafted by the A’s in the second round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Oklahoma.
Muncy, 25, and Ravelo, 23, spent time with the Sounds in 2015. Muncy hit .274 in 60 games with Nashville and Ravelo hit .304 across three levels after recovering from wrist surgery.
Nashville native and Montgomery Bell Academy graduate (‘07) Andrew Triggs will be a member of the Sounds’ bullpen. In 43 games with Double-A Bowie last year, the right-hander had a miniscule 1.03 ERA and converted a perfect 17 of 17 save opportunities.
Other positions players include catchers Bruce Maxwell and Matt McBride. McBride was named a 2015 PCL mid-season All-Star while the 25-year-old Maxwell gets his first shot at the Triple-A level.
Those who played in Nashville last season and are on this year’s season-opening roster include: C Bryan Anderson, RHP Angel Castro, INF/OF Tyler Ladendorf, Muncy, RHP Zach Neal, Ravelo, OF Jake Smolinski and Wendle.
Other pitchers on the roster include: LHP Daniel Coulombe, RHP Jesse Hahn, RHP Tucker Healy, RHP Eduard Santos, LHP Patrick Schuster, RHP Chris Smith, LHP Eric Surkamp and RHP J.B. Wendelken.
Coulombe, Hahn, Smith and Surkamp have major league experience. In 30 career games in the big leagues, Hahn is 13-10 with a 3.23 ERA. Smith is second on the Sounds’ all-time saves list with 43 from when he pitched in Nashville in 2009 and 2010.
The Sounds will be led by Manager Steve Scarsone for the second consecutive season. He enters his eighth season in the Oakland organization and fourth consecutive campaign as manager of the club’s top affiliate.
His coaching staff will consist of pitching coach Rick Rodriguez, hitting coach Eric Martins, trainer Brad LaRosa and strength and conditioning coach AJ Seeliger. LaRosa joins Scarsone as the only returning member from the 2015 coaching staff.
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

J.D. Robertson, a freshman infielder from Smyrna (Photo by Jeff Reed Photography)

J.D. Robertson lined a double down the first base line in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Josh Bankston who opened the inning being hit by a pitch, and the Motlow Bucks beat the Volunteer State Pioneers 6-5 Sunday afternoon at the Driver Baseball Complex.

The Bucks (14-24, 4-11) needed the win to salvage the final game of the three-game series against their Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) rivals. Volunteer State swept Saturday’s doubleheader 14-3 and 11-3.

Motlow will go on the road this coming weekend when they travel to Cleveland for a three-game series against TCCAA opponent Cleveland State.

Sunday’s win was even more impressive for Motlow considering the Bucks took a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning before the visitors rallied for three runs to tie the score. A hit batter and three errors almost cost the Bucks, but Robertson’s heroics saved the day.

J.R. Gilmer (1-1) got the win for Motlow by getting the final two outs in the eighth and pitching through the ninth. Connor Boyd got the start for the Bucks and was impressive, allowing only six hits and two runs with five strikeouts through seven innings. R.J. Moore and Bryce Bub pitched in the eighth before Gilmer came in to complete the win.

Peyton Meeker and Robertson each had two hits for the Bucks, who broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the sixth. Hunter Nance led off with a long double and Meeker singled him home, increasing his team-leading RBI total to 38. Motlow added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth as Nance walked, Meeker singled, Casey Wehrhahn doubled to drive in Nance and Cameron Isley added a double which drove in Meeker.

Saturday’s doubleheader was a different story as the Pioneers rolled into the Driver Baseball Complex with their bats swinging. Defense continued to be an issue for the Bucks as they committed 10 errors during Saturday’s 12 innings of action.

Motlow managed only five hits in game one while Volunteer State was slamming three home runs. Meeker went 3-4 in game two and had a double. The sophomore first baseman from Manchester is hitting .350 on the year with seven doubles, nine home runs and 38 RBI.

Spencer Mossburg had a double in each game and continues to lead the Bucks in hitting with a .383 average. Motlow’s next home contest will be Monday, Apr. 11, when the Cumberland University JV visit for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Visit the official website of Motlow Athletics at for rosters, schedules, stats and more. Interact with Motlow Athletics at <Facebook/MotlowSports> and <Twitter@MotlowSports>.