Cooper Pratt hits first Triple-A homer, powers Nashville past Charlotte 5-1

Cooper Pratt’s first Triple-A home run gave Nashville the early leverage it needed, and the Sounds never gave it back. Pratt’s three-run shot in the second inning was part of a night when Nashville scored all five runs on three homers, turning a visit to Truist Field in Charlotte into a clean, power-driven 5-1 win.

The swing mattered because it came from one of Milwaukee’s top young bats. MLB.com lists Pratt as the Brewers’ No. 4 prospect and the No. 55 prospect overall, and his first homer at this level arrived after a sluggish opening stretch. Baseball America noted that Pratt did not record his first extra-base hit until April 15 and had not yet put together a three-hit game, which made Sunday’s breakthrough look less like a flash and more like a sign that he is beginning to settle into Triple-A pitching.

That adjustment showed up in the shape of Nashville’s offense, too. Rather than scraping together runs with a string of singles, the Sounds got all five on long balls and put the game away without needing a late push. Pratt’s blast gave Nashville an immediate cushion, and the club’s ability to manufacture the rest of its scoring with the same kind of damage underscored a lineup that is learning how to turn solid contact into real separation.

The pitching side held up just as well. Quinn Priester, on a rehab assignment for Nashville, delivered a scoreless start before handing the game to Logan Henderson, who struck out nine over the final 5.0 innings in relief. Henderson’s work kept Charlotte from building any comeback momentum and finished off the kind of combined effort that Triple-A clubs want when the roster is constantly shifting between Nashville and Milwaukee.

The win also gave Nashville a steady ending to a volatile stretch in Charlotte. The Sounds and Knights split a doubleheader Saturday night, with Nashville snapping a three-game losing streak in the first game with a 12-5 victory before dropping the second game 16-6. Sunday’s result sent Nashville home with a cleaner read on Pratt, who had his first Triple-A homer, and a stronger read on a lineup that is starting to look more comfortable against upper-level arms.