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MLB

Redbirds Drop Season Opener to Colorado Springs, 4-3

Sky Sox Score Two in the Eighth and One in the Ninth for the Win
By
April 8, 2016

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 7, 2016) - The Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, led 3-1 going into the top of the eighth, but the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A Brewers) scored three runs in their final two at-bats to win the season opener for both clubs, 4-3, Thursday night at AutoZone Park.

 

David Goforth earned the win for the Sky Sox, and Sam Tuivailala took the loss for Memphis. A three-run home run by Jonathan Rodriguez highlighted the Redbird offense, and Jacob Wilson added two hits in three at-bats.

 

It was a pitching duel from the start, with Sky Sox starter Zach Davies and Redbirds starter Deck McGuire both pitching into the sixth. McGuire, making his first start as a member of the Cardinals organization, surrendered just four hits and one earned run in 5.1 innings of work. Davies matched him with four hits and one earned run to go along with eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings.

 

The game was scoreless as the two headed into the sixth, until Colorado Springs scored a run in the top-half of the inning on a fielder's choice groundout by Michael Reed. The Redbirds answered right back with a three-run blast by Rodriguez after Wilson doubled to left-center and Anthony Garcia was hit by a pitch. The homer came in Rodriguez' first game at the Triple-A level and followed 13 last season in Springfield (AA).

 

After both teams went scoreless in the seventh, Colorado Springs scored a pair of runs off three hits against Juan Gonzalez in the top of the eighth to tie the game at three. A one-out double by Garcia did not lead to anything in the home half of the eighth, and a ninth-inning grounder by Eric Young Jr., scored Garin Cecchini from third on a play at the plate to put the Sky Sox ahead for good.

 

Memphis went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to end a stretch of wins in the last four season openers dating back to a loss in 2011.

 

Game two of the four-game set is Friday night at 7:05 (CT) at AutoZone Park. A pair of right-handers in Memphis' J.C. Sulbaran and Colorado Springs' Junior Guerra are slated to duel on the mound.

 

For tickets or for more information on the 2016 Redbirds season, contact the Redbirds front office at (901) 721-6000 or visit www.memphisredbirds.com.