Redbirds Walk Off Over New Orleans In Extra Inning Affair, 2-1
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Pinch hitter Ed Easley hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Memphis Redbirds a 2-1 victory over the visiting New Orleans Zephyrs in front of 7,437 fans at AutoZone Park on Monday morning.
With the win, the Redbirds (12-19) avoided a four-game series sweep by the Zephyrs and finished the eight-game homestand with a 4-4 record. Two wins were of the walk-off variety as Dan Johnson previously hit a game-winning homer on Wednesday over Colorado Springs.
After Rafael Ortega reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, Easley hit an opposite-field line drive to right to plate Ortega, who slid under the tag to end the game.
Greg Garcia had two of Memphis' six hits to raise his May batting average to a team-leading .442 (14-for-32). Dean Anna and Scott Moore each had a hit and stole a base.
Redbirds starter Tim Cooney authored his second quality start of the season in a no-decision. The left-hander scattered six hits, including a sixth inning solo home run, over seven innings. He walks walked one and fanned three with 94 pitches.
Memphis jumped in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning as Anna reached on an infield single, stole second base, and came around to score on Moore's two-out base hit to left.
Brandon Bantz second homer of the season tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth, a solo shot of Cooney just beyond the left field wall.
Marcus Hatley followed Cooney by striking out two over 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Sam Tuivailala (2-0) came away with the victory with 2/3 of scoreless of a scoreless inning, stranding two runners.
The Redbirds embark on a road trip West tomorrow to face the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A Brewers) in a four-game series at Security Service Field. Left-hander John Gast (1-2, 5.79) will toe the rubber in the opener against Sky Sox right-hander Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 2.13).
The Redbirds return to AutoZone Park Saturday for another postgame fireworks extravaganza and a five-game, four-day series with the Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple-A Royals).