Scruggs' Two Homers Lead Redbirds To 4-2 Win

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - First baseman Xavier Scruggs homered twice to power the Memphis Redbirds to a 4-2 win over the visiting Omaha Storm Chasers on Wednesday afternoon at AutoZone Park, ending a three-game losing skid.

Scruggs now leads the league with four home runs through the first six games of the season, and is the first Redbird to homer twice in a game this season. The slugger was also the last Redbird to go yard twice in a game, doing so on August 14, 2014 at Albuquerque.

Catcher Cody Stanley (0-for-3) went hitless to end his season-opening five-game hitting streak.

The Redbirds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a trio of walks by Kansas City Royals rehabbing pitcher Luke Hochevar. Dean Anna (1-for-4, R) began the frame with an opposite-field base hit and gave Memphis its first lead in four games on Greg Garcia's (1-for-2, RBI, BB) bases loaded free pass.

With a runner aboard in the next frame, Omaha's Jose Martinez put the Storm Chasers in front at 2-1 with a two-run homer to left.

Two innings later, Memphis jumped back ahead on Scruggs' first home run of the game, a go-ahead two-run blast to left that plated Ty Kelly (1-for-2, R, 2 BB).

Scruggs' solo job in the eighth concluded Memphis' afternoon before Mitch Harris worked a perfect ninth for the save.

Redbirds starter Marco Gonzales surrendered two runs on six hits in four innings in his second start of the season. The left-hander also walked three and struck out one in the no-decision. Reliever Miguel Socolovich (1-0) struck out one over two scoreless innings for the win.

The Redbirds and Storm Chasers conclude a three-game series at 7:05 pm CT on Thursday night at AutoZone Park. Left-hander Tim Cooney (1-0, 0.00) toes the rubber in the finale against right-hander Joe Blanton (0-1, 3.60).