Fife's brilliant outing not enough for 'Cakes

Stephen Fife carried a perfect game into the seventh inning on Thursday night, but the Memphis Redbirds strung together enough offense late to defeat the New Orleans Baby Cakes, 3-2.
The teams split the four-game series, leaving the 'Cakes still in search of their first series win of the season.
Fife recorded a season-high seven strikeouts, including six in the first three innings. He did not allow a baserunner until Todd Cunnginham singled through the hole at second base to lead off the seventh, which sparked a two-run rally.
Nick Martini followed with a single to left, and Luke Voit doubled over the head of right fielder Moisés Sierra to plate the game's first run. A ground out by Carson Kelly scored Martini to give the Redbirds a 2-0 cushion.
Memphis received six shutout innings from Jack Flaherty, the Cardinals' fifth-rated prospect who was making his second Triple-A start. Flaherty gave up first-inning singles to Chad Hinshaw and Destin Hood but escaped the jam, and the only other baserunner to reach was on an error in the fifth.
After turning to reliever Mark Montgomery (2-0) in the seventh, another Redbirds error allowed the Baby Cakes to tie the game. Brandon Barnes followed third baseman Patrick Wisdom's throwing error by slugging his fifth home run of the year to knot the score at 2-2.
Memphis pulled back in front in the eighth when Breyvic Valera led off with a single, advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt, then trotted home on a pair of fly balls, including Todd Cunningham's go-ahead sacrifice fly.
Sam Tuivailala retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his fifth save.
Javy Guerra (2-1) took the loss for New Orleans, which opens a three-game weekend set in Omaha on Friday at 7:05 p.m.