Saturday, 05/14/05

It's been a hot Weeks for the Nashville Sounds.

Second baseman Rickie Weeks extended his hitting streak to eight games with his PCL-leading fifth triple, then doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth as the Sounds defeated Tucson 7-5.

''I've been seeing the ball pretty well; I'm just trying to slow myself down,'' Weeks said after keeping his average at .500 (12-for-24) for the life of the streak and raising it to .328 for the season. ''I think I was rushing, trying too hard. Now, I'm letting it come to me.''

Weeks, who walked and scored in Nashville's three-run first-inning, has seven doubles in his last eight games and 10 for the season. His 22 total extra-base hits are one off the Pacific Coast League lead held by Memphis third baseman Scott Seabol — who was called up earlier this week when Scott Rolen went on the disabled list for St. Louis.

''The main thing is to try to see the ball, put a good swing on it, get on base, score and help the team win,'' said Weeks, whose 23 runs are second on the Sounds behind Dave Krynzel's 24.

Weeks' run in the sixth snapped a 5-5 tie, as the Sounds were set to give starter Jose Capellan his fourth win in five decisions before Tucson rallied with three runs in the top of the sixth.

Nashville added a run in the eighth as Corey Hart led off with a triple in his first pinch-hit appearance of the season and scored on Krynzel's sacrifice fly.

Capellan has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts.

Hitting safely in 17 of his last 19 games, Weeks is hitting .422 (27-for-64) over that stretch with 20 RBIs and 16 runs.

''He's a little more comfortable now,'' Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. ''He looks like he has an idea how he's going to be pitched.''

Prospecting: With Sergio Santos' pinch-hit appearance in the seventh inning for Tucson, the top three prospects for the Diamondbacks and three of the top four for the Brewers (as judged by Baseball America) were in last night's game.

Conor Jackson (No. 2) started at first for the Sidewinders, with Carlos Quentin (No. 1) entering the game in a fifth-inning double-switch. For the Sounds, Weeks (No. 1), first baseman Prince Fielder (No. 2) and Capellan (No. 4) all started.

Milwaukee's No. 3 prospect, J.J. Hardy, is the Brewers' every day shortstop.

Game at a glance

Winning pitcher: Justin Lehr (4-2).

Big stick: Rickie Weeks, 2-for-4, RBI triple, double, two runs.

How they won: Weeks doubled in the sixth and scored on Prince Field-er's base hit to snap a 5-5 deadlock. Corey Hart added an insurance run in the eighth with his pinch-hit triple and Dave Krynzel's sacrifice fly. Lehr threw 21/3 scoreless relief innings.

What they said: ''Justin's doing an outstanding job. He's down in the (strike) zone. He's bouncing his breaking balls instead of hanging them, and his fastball command is better.'' — Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas after Lehr shaved his ERA down to 4.71 and took the team lead in victories.

Tonight's pitchers: Sounds: RHP Ben Hendrickson (1-3, 4.54 ERA). 51s: RHP Edwin Jackson (2-2, 7.06).