Redbirds Salvage Series Split With 10-1 Win In Omaha
PAPILLION, Nebr. - The Memphis Redbirds exploded for a season-high 19 hits during a 10-1 rout of the Omaha Storm Chasers in the finale or a four-game series on Thursday night at Werner Park.
The first seven batters of the Redbirds lineup tallied multiple hits, led by three-hit efforts by Randal Grichuk (3-for-5, 2B, 3 R), Oscar Taveras (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R), Stephen Piscotty (3-4, 2B, 3 RBI), and Joey Butler (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R).
With the win, the Redbirds salvaged a four-game series split and finished with a 5-3 record though Iowa and Omaha. The club plated double-digit runs on three occasions during the season-opening road trip.
Redbirds starter Tim Cooney (2-0) yielded one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings for the win. He walked one and struck out three on the night. The left-hander has recorded two outstanding starts to begin his Triple-A career, opening the season with 13.1 consecutive scoreless frames before allowing his first run.
Piscotty extended his team-best hitting streak to seven games with his three-hit, three-RBI game. Grichuk scored a game-high three runs and has come home on 11 occasions in seven games this season.
Memphis scored first for the eighth straight game to open the season and didn't looks back as Butler unleashed his second home run of the season in the second inning, a solo shot over the center field wall.
Two innings later with Butler aboard, first baseman Xavier Scruggs uncorked his first Triple-A home run with a two-run shot to center to bring the lead to 3-0.
The first five Memphis batters reached to begin the fifth, highlighted by three straight hits by Grichuk, Taveras, and Piscotty to account for two more runs. Back-to-back singles by Scott Moore and Butler pushed the score to 8-0 in the next frame. Piscotty and Butler concluded the Redbirds damage in the seventh with an RBI base hit and bases-loaded walk.
Omaha broke up the shutout with its only run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Jimmy Paredes led off with a single and came around to score on an infield groundout.
David Aardsma made his team-leading fourth appearance, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings while stranding one of two inherited runners. Lee Stoppelman worked around one hit for a scoreless ninth.
Omaha starter John Lamb (0-2) scattered 11 hits for five runs (four earned) in five innings for the loss.
The Redbirds return to the Bluff City for their home opener against the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A Cubs) at 7:05 pm CT on Friday at AutoZone Park. Left-hander Tyler Lyons (0-0, 1.50) will toe the rubber for Memphis again Iowa left-hander Eric Jokisch (0-0, 0.00).