Redbirds continue to slide with 4-3 loss

Memphis, TN- The Redbirds built can't hold their early lead over the first three innings, but it was not enough as the RedHawks found a power surge, thanks to some key pinch-hitting, handing the 'Birds their ninth-straight loss on Friday at AutoZone Park.

"We're searching right now," manager Ron Warner said. "We just have to find a way to win games. Teams are finding a way to beat us and we have to counter that. That's the way this game is. We're playing hard, doing things right and we're not giving up, but we have to find a way to win. I'm glad the fans have accepted me back and I just want to win some games for them, not just for myself, but for this team and for the community as well."

The Redbirds got a good start out of Nick Additon who pitched five innings allowing one earned run with four strikeouts, while his counterpart, RedHawks starter Henry Sosa allowed two earned runs with five strikeouts.

"I threw the ball well, but I had way too many pitches in five innings," Additon said. "I need to be able to take my team into the seventh and eighth innings of games. If I would have done that tonight I feel that we would have had a better chance of winning and we could have saved our bullpen."

Memphis built an early lead scoring three runs in three innings, but a home run by Brad Bixler in the fifth off of Additon and a pinch-hit home run by Scott Moore in the sixth off of Jess Todd quickly tied the game up at three-a-piece. The deciding play came on a ninth-inning catching error by right fielder Cedric Hunter which scored Justin Ruggiano for what would be the deciding run to win the game for Oklahoma City.

"The wins will come," Additon said. "We just haven't been playing as well as we know we can. We will come together as a team. We just have to keep fighting. It's still early in the season."

The Redbirds will be searching for their first win in 10 games when they host the RedHawks on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at 1:35 p.m. (CT) at AutoZone Park.

Tomorrow's Probables:
Memphis: RHP Brandon Dickson (1-1, 2.38)
Oklahoma City: Paul Clemens (1-1, 1.64)