Redbirds Lose Homestand Opener In Extras, 5-3
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Kyle Kubitza hit a two-run home run in the top of the 12th inning to give the visiting Salt Lake Bees a 5-3 win over the Memphis Redbirds in the opener of a four-game series on Friday at AutoZone Park.
With the loss, Memphis falls 23-26 overall on the season and 1-2 in extra-inning games.
The Redbirds sent the game into extras in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 3-2 with two outs and Rafael Ortega on third, designated hitter Mike O'Neill (1-for-2, RBI) dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line that tied the game.
Leadoff man Dean Anna had three hits for Memphis, while Stephen Piscotty, Xavier Scruggs, Greg Garcia, and Ortega all added two hits apiece. The Redbirds collectively stranded a season-high 13 runners and went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position
Lost in the evening was another great pitching performance by Redbirds starter Zach Petrick. The right-hander gave up one run on seven hits while striking out four in six innings. In six May starts, Petrick is 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA (8er/37.0ip) and 28 strikeouts.
Consecutive one-out doubles by Efren Navarro and C.J. Cron gave Salt Lake a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Memphis knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning as Piscotty opened the frame on second base with an infield single combined with a Bees throwing error. Piscotty later moved to third on an infield groundout and scored on Garcia's RBI double down the right field line.
Piscotty was in on the action again in the sixth when the Redbirds took a brief 2-1 lead. Piscotty singled to center, advanced to second on a walk, and came home to score the go-ahead run on Scruggs' RBI single up the middle.
Salt Lake went back ahead in the eighth inning at 3-2 on a two-out double by Jett Bandy.
Memphis and Salt Lake continue its four-game series at 6:05pm CT on Saturday night at AutoZone Park. Left-hander Nick Greenwood (3-1, 7.53) will make the start for the Redbirds against left-hander Adam Wilk (2-3, 5.11). Another fantastic fireworks extravaganza will follow the action on the field. Gates open at 5:00.