Redbirds Blank New Orleans Again, Win 1-0

METAIRIE, La. - Redbirds right-hander Michael Wacha doesn't show any signs of the pressure that normally follows a number one draft pick even though he was still in college at this time last year. The 21-year-old from Texas A&M showed his composure Thursday night as he and the Redbirds blanked New Orleans 1-0 at Zephyr Field.

The win improved Wacha's record to 2-0. He turned in seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits, walked two and struck out three. The outing marked his longest of the season after totaling just nine innings in his first two starts.

Wacha got the only run he needed in the second inning when his battery mate, Rob Johnson, hit a two-out homer to left field off Elih Villanueva (0-2). It was the second time this year that Johnson took Villanueva deep. Johnson went back-to-back with Jamie Romak on April 8 at AutoZone Park off the right-hander. The Redbirds won that game 18-2.

While the starting rotation has been rock solid this season, the bullpen has had it struggles, but not Thursday night. Keith Butler retired the side in order in the eighth and Victor Marte had his best outing of the season with an effortless ninth inning. Marte has now picked up back-to-back saves after blowing his first three opportunities.

The Redbirds also shutout New Orleans in the series opener and now have a league-best three on the young season. They will play for a sweep of their four-game series with the Zephyrs tonight with Tyler Lyons (2-0, 3.46) squaring off against Tom Koehler (0-1, 1.06).

Memphis missed a chance to sweep their series at Oklahoma City, losing 11-0 Monday night. They have clinched a winning road trip by winning six of their first seven games. The win improves their record to 8-5, one game ahead of Omaha in the American Northern Division.