Scruggs beats former team in 10th inning

Xavier Scruggs singled down the first base line to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the New Orleans Zephyrs a 2-1 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Thursday night.

After Isaac Galloway led off the 10th with a single, Austin Nola reached on an error and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Elliot Soto to set the stage for Scruggs. The former Redbird slugger came off the bench to rip a single past a diving Jonathan Rodriguez at first base to give the Zephyrs their second walk-off victory of the year.

Neither team mounted much offense, combining for 12 hits, only one of which went for extra bases. The game remained deadlocked 1-1 from the fourth inning on.

Kenny Wilson led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and stole second base, his eighth steal of the season, second-most in the Pacific Coast League. Wilson raced home on a two-out single to right by Cole Gillespie for a quick 1-0 lead.

Jarred Cosart, in his first start since being optioned from the Marlins, issued three walks in the first three innings but avoided damage until the fourth. Carlos Peguero roped a double over the head of Destin Hood in center field, stole third base and scored on a single by Dean Anna.

Cosart worked five innings and allowed one run and three hits with six strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Memphis starter Arturo Reyes silenced the Zephyrs after the early struggles. Reyes held the Z's without a hit over his final four innings, scattered three walks and struck out four across six frames.

Tomas Telis greeted reliever John Church with a bunt single to lead off the seventh, extending his hit streak to six games, but Austin Nola bounced into the Zephyrs' third double play of the night to extinguish the rally.

Andre Rienzo worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. With one out, Rienzo struck out Mike Ohlman, then got pinch hitter Nick Martini to pop out to end the threat.

An inning later, it was Brian Ellington getting out of trouble after the Redbirds put the go-ahead run at third with one out. Anthony Garcia hit a slow roller to Nola at third, but the former LSU star made an accurate throw to the plate to cut down Charlie Tilson attempting to score.

Ellington (1-0) picked up the win with his scoreless inning of relief, and Socolovich (0-2) was saddled with the loss.

The series resumes on Friday at 7 p.m.