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Redbirds Win 5-4 In Comeback Fashion

Chris Swauger Clears The Bases In The Ninth Inning For The Victory In Nashville
July 13, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Memphis Redbirds defeated the cross-state rival Nashville Sounds 5-4 on Saturday night at Herschel Greer Stadium. Chris Swauger hit a three-run double in the ninth inning for the comeback victory.

The Redbirds' (47-50) win gives them a 2-1 lead in the four-game series and an 8-7 advantage on the season over the Sounds (33-64). It was the second night in a row the Redbirds took the lead with two outs in their last at-bat, with Greg Garcia doing the damage on Friday.

Memphis holds on to second place in the PCL American Northern Division, 1.5 games behind Iowa, while Nashville remains in fourth place in the division.

All nine starters for Memphis, including pitcher Boone Whiting, collected a hit in the game. The Redbirds had 14 hits and two walks total.

Garcia hit his first home run of the year and Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games. Swauger and Adron Chambers each had three hits while Travis Tartamella added two.

Whiting pitched five 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts.  

Nashville opened the scoring in the first inning as a Hunter Morris RBI-single drove in Kentrail Davis to put the home team up 1-0.

Memphis evened things quickly after Swauger singled with two out in the top of the second inning. Tartamella moved Swauger from first to third on a hit. Whiting then knocked his first RBI of the season and brought Swauger home with a line drive to left, bringing the score to 1-1.

Garcia led off the third inning with a solo shot to right field, putting the Redbirds up 2-1. The 'Birds would threaten again in the fifth and the eighth, but left the bases loaded both times. Memphis left 22 runners on base for the night.

The 2-1 mark held up until Whiting was relieved by Mark Rzepczynski with two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth inning. An inherited runner scored on a Scooter Gennett infield single to knot the tally at 2-2.

The Sounds moved the score to 4-2 in the seventh inning off a Cole Garner RBI-triple and a Blake Davis sacrifice fly. Rzepczynski tossed an inning and a1/3, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.

Jorge Rondon (3-5) earned the win and tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning - the only of the night - with a strikeout. Relievers Tim Dillard and Jesus Sanchez each added a scoreless frame for the Sounds.

Kyle Heckathorn (6-3) came on for Nashville in the ninth inning, attempting his first career save. Brock Peterson was hit by a pitch with two outs to start the rally. Chambers followed with a single and Jermaine Curtis walked, bringing Swauger to the dish for the game-winning hit.

Fernando Salas picked up his fourth save for the 'Birds, allowing a hit on a strikeout to preserve the one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth.

In the series and season finale for the Redbirds and Sounds on Sunday at 6:35 p.m. in Nashville, the 'Birds send right-hander Scott McGregor (3-5, 5.70 ERA) to the mound to face southpaw Chris Narveson (2-5, 6.70 ERA).