Redbirds Offense Comes Alive On Father's Day

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Redbirds ended a three-game losing streak with a 7-2 win over the visiting Reno Aces on Father's Day at AutoZone Park.

Redbirds starter Tim Cooney twirled his team-leading ninth quality start to move to 7-4 on the season. The left-hander allowed six hits for two runs while striking out six over seven innings of work. Cooney also added a base hit, walk, and scored a run from the dish.

The outfielder attack of Oscar Taveras (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Stephen Piscotty (2-for-2, 2B, 3 RBI. 3 BB), and Randal Grichuk (0-for-4, HBP, RBI, R) went a combined 4-for-10 with one home run, one double, four walks, three runs scored, and seven runs batted in.

First baseman Xavier Scruggs put the Redbirds on the board in the second inning with his sixth homer of the season, a solo bomb onto the TruGreen Bluff. In the fourth with Grichuk aboard after being beaned, Taveras tomahawked his eighth home run of the season, a two-run liner to right for a 3-0 advantage.

Memphis continued its season-long success with the bases loaded and extended the lead to 7-1 in the fourth. After the Aces intentionally walked Taveras to load the bases, Piscotty lined a bases-clearing, three-run double to center to score Cooney, Greg Garcia (1-for-4, 2B, HBP, R), and Taveras.

The Aces scored their first run in the fourth on an Aaron Cunningham RBI single. The club got its second in the sixth as Andy Marte went yard to left.

Relievers Eric Fornataro and Jose Almarante each fired scoreless frames to end the afternoon.

Zeke Spruill (3-2) was charged with seven runs on eight hits in four innings for the loss.

Memphis and Reno wrap up its four-game season series at 7:05 pm CT on Monday night at AutoZone Park. Memphis' starter for tomorrow has yet to be announced. The Aces will go with right-hander Mike Bolsinger (5-1, 2.73).