Gallo matches career high with four hits

Circumstances for Joey Gallo were such Thursday that the 22-year-old slugger was not likely to produce a remarkable performance.

"I had a few days off. I got sick a little bit and I lost my rhythm. I didn't feel good yesterday, Today, I felt better, but we had a 4 a.m. flight," the Rangers' top prospect said. "It was one of those traveling days. It's kind of show-and-go. There are days you feel terrible, and sometimes those days are the best days. I think I just went up there for those at-bats and tried to stay awake while I was hitting." 

Not only did Gallo stay awake, but he matched a career high with four hits -- which he'd achieved five previous times. He went 4-for-5 with his 15th homer of the season, three RBIs and two runs scored as Triple-A Round Rock fell at Memphis, 13-7.

"For personal satisfaction, it was good. It was a good day at the plate for me -- obviously the outcome wasn't what we wanted," Gallo said. "That's baseball -- it's how it happens sometimes. But we've been swinging it a little bit, and we're coming back around. I expect we're going to continue that and have things start to go our way." 

MLB.com's No. 7 overall prospect posted a .402 on-base percentage with seven homers through April 28. He hit the disabled list with a mild groin strain at the beginning of May, but got into a Major League game on May 23. He cooled off slightly upon returning to the Pacific Coast League, and the 2012 sandwich pick started July on a 1-for-10 skid.

"Getting three, four knocks in a game helps your confidence," Gallo said. "I was kind of going through a rough patch where the ball wasn't getting through, wasn't finding the gaps for me. It was good to see some land and to see it going out of the park."

He lined an RBI single to right in the first inning and lined a run-scoring single to left in the third. On the third pitch of the eighth inning by Redbirds left-hander Corey Littrell, he sent one over the right-field wall. 

"It was coming right off a pretty long inning for them. Leading off after an inning like that, you want to work the count, make the guy throw pitches and let your defense and pitching rest," Gallo said. "I got it to 2-0, and obviously, the player I am, I want to try to do damage on 2-0. I got a good pitch to hit and I didn't miss."

The next inning, the left-handed hitter pulled a liner for a base knock. It marked his first four-hit performance since he put one together on May 16, 2014 for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach.

"We'll see," Gallo said. "Every day is different. Baseball, some days feel great, but you don't know when you'll lose it. That's what happened in the middle of the year. I was playing real well. Then I started to feel uncomfortable at the plate, and everything went downhill. For me, getting those hits, that's great. I'm going to focus on that and squaring balls up and hope things go my way."

No. 16 Cardinals prospect Jacob Wilson and No. 27 Mike Ohlman both homered. They combined to go 3-for-7 with five RBIs, four runs scored and a walk.

Redbirds righty Kurt Heyer (1-0) was perfect over 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Francisco Mendoza (2-2) surrendered six runs on six hits and walk while striking out one in 1 1/3 frames.