The Nashville Sounds rallied back from a 4-0 deficit to defeat opening day starter Mike Wuertz and the Iowa Cubs, 5-4, Thursday night in Des Moines, Iowa.

Wuertz, an Austin High School graduate, surrendered a four-run second inning to Nashville and suffered the loss midway through the fifth on an RBI-double by Carlos Rivera.

Wuertz, who led the I-Cubs in innings pitched in 2002, allowed eight hits and four earned runs in four and one-third innings Thursday.

He struck out two and walked three, but his throwing error contributed to Nashville's second-inning outbreak.

Wuertz went 9-5 in 28 games for the I-Cubs in 2002, compiling a 5.55 earned run average, 131 strikeouts and 69 walks in 154 innings.

Wuertz will make his second start of the season on Tuesday, April 8, against the Memphis Redbirds in Memphis, Tenn. The Redbirds are the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

On the Web: www.iowacubs.com