Redbirds slug I-Cubs

Des Moines, IA - The Redbirds used solid pitching and pounded out 13 hits as they beat the Iowa Cubs 6-2 Monday afternoon. The win puts Memphis in position to win their first series of the season.

Joe Kelly (1-1) entered the game winless through his first three starts despite an impressive 2.12 ERA. The right-hander blanked the Cubs on four hits through five innings before they reached home for a pair of runs in the sixth. Kelly turned it over to the bullpen after the sixth and the trio of Adam Reifer, Chuckie Fick and Jess Todd held Iowa hitless the rest of the way.

Ryan Jackson led the Redbirds 13-hit attack with four hits and two RBI while Pete Kozma had two hits, including a run-scoring triple and Adron Chambers contributed a pair of hits.

Jay Jackson (1-2) took the loss after giving up five runs, two earned, in five innings of work.

The win improved the Redbirds record to 6-12 and with a win tomorrow would celebrate their first series win of the season. Iowa is currently 1.5 games ahead of Memphis in the battle for second place in the American Northern Division. Omaha leads Memphis seven games heading into Monday night's action. Omaha begins a 4-game series at AutoZone Park Thursday night.

Notes: First baseman Matt Adams sat out his second consecutive game with a sore elbow. He is listed as day-to-day.

Today's probables:
Memphis - RHP Shelby Miller (1-2, 6.23)
Iowa - LHP Travis Wood (1-1, 5.19)