Anna Powers Memphis To 5-4 Win Over Nashville

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Second baseman Dean Anna hit a go-ahead solo home run to give the Memphis Redbirds a 5-4 win over the cross-state rival Nashville Sounds in front of 7,323 fans on Saturday night at AutoZone.

The win knotted the Tennessee Lottery I-40 Cup at 5-5 between Memphis and Nashville. The two clubs wrap up their five-game series at 1:35pm CT on Rockey's birthday on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park, the final game before the Triple-A All-Star Break.

In his Triple-A debut, Redbirds right-hander Chris Thomas (1-0) struck out three while hurling four hitless frames in relief for the win.

All nine combined runs were scored over the first three frames, as Anna's third inning blast concluded the night's scoring. Catcher Cody Stanley added two doubles and a run scored.

The Redbirds jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Nashville starter Brad Mills, who opened the frame with a line drive off of his leg by Rafael Ortega (2-3, 2B, 2 R). Two batters later, Greg Garcia singled through the right side of the drawn-in Nashville infield. Later in the frame with two outs, Stanley and Anna added run-scoring hits. 

Nashville got two runs back in the second inning with a pair of solo home runs from Max Muncy and Anthony Aliotti.

Stephen Piscotty extended the Memphis lead to 4-2 in the next frame before Nashville's Jason Pridie hit a game-tying two-run home run to knock Memphis spot starter Tyler Waldron from the game.

Waldron surrendered four runs on five hits, including three home runs, in 2 1/3 innings for a no-decision. All-star left-hander Dean Kiekhefer struck out former Redbirds catcher Bryan Anderson to end the night and secure the win for Memphis.

The Redbirds and Sounds conclude their five-game series at 1:35pm CT on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park. Left-hander Tyler Lyons (5-4, 3.10) will start for Memphis against Nashville righty Nathan Long (1-1, 3.00).