Redbirds Back Into First Place With 4-1 Win
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tim Cooney recorded his league-leading 13th victory in the Memphis Redbirds' 4-1 win over the visiting Sacramento River Cats on Friday night at AutoZone Park.
Combined with a Nashville loss, the Redbirds (73-60) regained sole possession of first place by one game in the PCL American Southern Division with 10 remaining.
The win moved Cooney into a tie for first place in Redbirds franchise history for most victories in a single-season, joining Larry Luebbers (1999) and Lance Lynn (2010). In his team-leading 15th quality start, the left-hander gave up one run on four hits while striking out six.
Catcher Ed Easley hit his ninth homer of the season while extending his hitting streak to eight games. Xavier Scruggs, Luis Mateo, and Pete Kozma each added two hits.
Both teams traded runs on sacrifice flies in the opening frame, beginning with former Cardinals farm-hand Shane Peterson bring home Nick Buss.
Outfielder Tommy Pham became the sixth Redbird this season to record a double-digit hitting streak, beginning the bottom of the first with a double off the center field wall. The outfielder moved to third on an error and came home to score on Randal Grichuk's 70th RBI.
The game remained tied until the fifth inning when Kozma led off with a double to left field. Two batters later, Mateo drilled an RBI double to left center.
Easley capped the evening with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and solo homer onto the TruGreen Bluff in the eighth, moving the Redbirds lead to 4-1.
Kevin Siegrist and Eric Fornataro each pitched scoreless innings to secure the win for Memphis.
Memphis and Sacramento wrap up their four-game series at 6:05 on Saturday night from AutoZone Park. Left-hander Marco Gonzales (3-1, 3.86) is schedule to take the mound for the Redbirds opposite Sacramento righty Deck McGuire (1-3, 9.00).
Saturday is Superhero/Comic Night at AutoZone Park as Redbirds encourage fans to come to the ballpark dressed in their favorite superhero or comic character. The final postgame fireworks extravaganza of the season will follow the action on the field. Gates open at 5 pm.