DURHAM, N.C. – Nashville dropped the series finale to the Durham Bulls with a 7-2 loss on Sunday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Thomas Pannone allowed a season-high seven runs on nine hits in four innings of work, while Brandon Lockridge and Jeferson Quero were responsible for Nashville's two runs of the game.
The Bulls spoiled Pannone's streak without allowing a run in the bottom of the first inning of Sunday's finale as former Sound Jared Oliva led off with an infield single. After Jake Fraley was hit by pitch, Austin Slater lined a base hit into center field and scored Oliva for the first run of the game. Two at-bats later, Carson Williams hit a sac fly to right fielder Jacob Hurtubise and scored the second Bulls run of the frame. Oliva got the best of Pannone in his second at-bat as he crushed his first homer of the season for Durham with a two-run shot to center field and gave the Bulls a 4-0 lead. Durham grew the lead to seven runs with Oliva collecting his third hit of the game. Fraley then hammered a two-run home run to right field for the six-run lead. Slater continued the damage as he earned his second hit of the night, and Xavier Isaac ripped an RBI-double to drive in Slater for the 7-0 lead.
Pannone ended his day allowing a season-high seven runs on nine hits in four innings of work and was replaced for Brandon Sproat in the bottom of the fifth inning, who tossed a 1-2-3 frame. In the top of the sixth, the Sounds got on the board as Daniel Guilarte drew a leadoff walk. Tyler Black followed with a double into right field, and Brock Wilken drew the second walk of the frame to load the bases. Lockridge got on base with the Sounds third walk in the inning and scored Guilarte. Quero hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field and scored Black for the five-run deficit. Sproat worked 2.1 scoreless frames before he was taken out for Jared Koenig and was able to record the next two outs, stranding the runner on base.
Cameron Wagoner entered the game for the Sounds in the bottom of the eighth inning worked around a two-out walk as he punched out three of the four batters he faced. The Sounds had one last opportunity in the top of the ninth inning but were shut down in 1-2-3 fashion as the Bulls took the series with a 7-2 victory.
With Monday off, the Sounds return to First Horizon Park for the final six-game series of the 2026 season and will host the first-half International League Champions, Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A, St. Louis Cardinals) beginning Tuesday, September 15.
POSTGAME NOTES:
HURTUBASE: Jacob Hurtubise extended his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games, which is tied for his season-long, in Sunday's finale as he was hit by pitch in the top of the third inning. The 10 games ties with Bo Naylor and Sal Frelick for the third longest-active on-base streak on the team. He has hit a .214 (6-for-28), a double, 10 walks and nine runs since the start of his streak on August 23.
NOT SO PERFECT: After Thomas Pannone tossed the third perfect game in Sounds franchise history, it was the complete opposite in Sunday's series finale against the Bulls. He allowed a season-high seven runs on nine hits, two homers and struck out three Durham hitters in four innings of work. It was the 12th time in his professional career since 2013 he has allowed 7+ runs in a single game and was the first time he allowed as many runs since April 17 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs when he was with Triple-A Worcester during the 2022 season. The most runs Pannone has allowed in his career sits at nine runs allowed on September 18 at Reno when he was with Salt Lake during the 2021 season.
SEEN BETTER DAYS: The Sounds offense were held under five hits for the second straight game in Sunday's finale. The team combined for four hits and was the 36th time this season the Sounds were held to five or fewer hits and was the fourth time through 12 games in September. It was the eighth time Nashville has been held under five hits in consecutive games this season, and it happened six times in 2025.