Gant Does It All in 1-0 Redbird Win

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -John Gant pitched 8.0 shutout innings of two-hit baseball and drove in the game's only run in a 1-0 Memphis Redbirds (41-26) win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) Friday night at AutoZone Park.

After walking the first batter of the game, Gant retired 13-straight and 20 of the next 21 hitters into the seventh inning. After throwing four balls for that game-opening walk, Gant threw just 16 balls total to the next 23 batters. He ended the game throwing 90 pitches, 64 of which were strikes, and struck out six.
Colorado Springs' (38-27) only hits in the game were a fifth inning bunt single and a seventh inning single. The two hits allowed were a season low for Memphis hurlers.
In the bottom of the second, Gant helped himself with a two-out single up the middle that scored Carson Kelly , who had singled to start the frame. That wound end up being the only run of the night in Memphis' first 1-0 game since a loss to New Orleans on May 31, 2016.
Josh Lucas came on to pitch the top of the ninth, and he faced Ryan Cordell with a runner on third and one out after a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch. Cordell grounded to Alex Mejia at shortstop, who threw home to start a 6-2-5-6 putout to erase the potential tying run at the plate.
Lucas then whiffed Garrett Cooper to end the game and give the Redbirds three wins in four games against Colorado Springs, who has the third-best record in the Pacific Coast League behind Reno and Memphis.
The game was delayed 26 minutes at the start due to rain and 15 minutes during the game for field maintenance.
The Redbirds hit the road for eight games in nine days, starting tomorrow night at Round Rock, before returning to Memphis for an eight-game homestand running June 26-July 3.
Next Games at AutoZone Park
The upcoming homestand (June 26-July 3) features:
Tuesday, June 27 (7:05 p.m.): King Cotton $1 Hot Dog Night
Thursday, June 29 (7:05 p.m.): All-You-Can-Eat Thursday, featuring breakfast foods, Thirsty Thursday with select $2 beers, College Night with $5 Left Field TruGreen Bluff tickets available for college students with a valid college ID
Friday, June 30 (7:05 p.m.): Memphis Chicks Night, featuring 2017 Hall of Fame inductee and former Memphis Chick Tim Raines (private meet-and-greet specialty ticket available), Friday Night Block Party featuring a band and $2 beers in the Plaza before the game
Saturday, July 1 (6:35 p.m.): postgame fireworks, Carlos Martinez/Matt Carpenter Dual Bobblehead specialty ticket, Saturday Night Party in the Plaza with a band and $2 beers before the game
Sunday, July 2 (2:05 p.m.): Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream to the first 2,500 kids ages 12 and under upon entering, Kids Run the Bases after the game, pregame player autographs inside the main gates (subject to change or cancellation)
Monday, July 3 (6:35 p.m.): Independence Day postgame fireworks, presented by AutoZone
For information on upcoming promotions, visit www.memphisredbirds.com/promotions. For more information on single-game tickets and ticket mini-memberships, visit www.memphisredbirds.com/tickets.