Redbirds Score Early and Often to Top Indy, 11-8
INDIANAPOLIS – In a high-scoring affair on Friday night, the Memphis Redbirds used nine unanswered runs over the first four innings to hold off the Indianapolis Indians, 11-8.
INDIANAPOLIS – In a high-scoring affair on Friday night, the Memphis Redbirds used nine unanswered runs over the first four innings to hold off the Indianapolis Indians, 11-8.
Memphis (40-30) built a 9-0 cushion thanks to three consecutive three-run innings in the second, third and fourth. Indianapolis starter Zach Matson (L, 0-1) surrendered two singles in the second before exiting the ballgame, and reliever Travis MacGregor – making his Triple-A debut – served up a three-run homer to Devlin Perez moments later. Memphis’ Clint Coulter added a three-run homer off John O’Reilly in the fourth to bury Indy in a seemingly insurmountable hole.
The Indians (34-34) fought back with a six-run burst in the fifth to cut the deficit to 9-6 courtesy of five hits and two walks. A Josh Bissonette bases-clearing double highlighted the frame in which Indy scored five of its six runs with no outs. Kyle Ryan (W, 5-1) came in relief to put the rally to a halt.
After the Redbirds tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, Ji-Hwan Bae got one back for the Indians – his second of three hits on the night – with an RBI single to bring them within three runs again. Each team plated one run in the eighth before Memphis closed out its series-tying victory.
The announced attendance of 12,412 was Indy’s largest at Victory Field since Aug. 31, 2019.
The Indians and Redbirds will be in action at Victory Field on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET. RHP Mike Burrows (0-0, 6.00) will toe the rubber for Indy against Memphis LHP Matthew Liberatore (4-3, 3.71).