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Zephyrs outlast Redbirds in 16-inning thriller

Vento's non-routine fly ball to left gives New Orleans win
April 11, 2006
A dropped fly ball to left capped Monday's 16-inning epic between New Orleans and Memphis, with the visiting Zephyrs coming out on top, 4-3.

Brendan Harris led off the bottom of the 16th with a double to center field. Larry Broadway, the Zephyr's best hitter with a .412 average, laid a sacrifice bunt down the third-base line. Mike Vento worked the count full in the next at-bat before lofting a pitch from Matt Smith into left field. Chris Duncan dropped the ball, allowing Harris to score the winning run.

Through all 16 innings, New Orleans (4-1) managed just six hits, with Broadway and Vento collecting two each. Both hitters went 2-for-6 with a double and an RBI.

Kevin Gryboski (1-0) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless 16th, allowing just one hit, but the reliever preceding him may have saved the game for the Zephyrs. Santiago Ramirez pitched three perfect innings, dominating the Redbirds with a game-high five strikeouts.

Memphis (0-5) remained winless despite a strong performance from its pitching staff. Starter Brad Voyles turned in six shutout innings, giving up two hits and fanning four, while Brian Falkenborg retired all four batters he faced. Smith (0-2) was the hard-luck loser, giving up the winning run on just one hit over 3 1/3 innings.

Juan Diaz was 3-for-7 for the Redbirds, hitting a home run and a double while driving in a pair of runs.

Memphis and New Orleans meet again at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com