Memphis Wins Game Two with Fresno, 8-7

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A five-run third inning gave the Memphis Redbirds a 7-4 lead, and a run in the fifth followed by lockdown defense and pitching the rest of the way secured an 8-7 Redbird win over the Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A Astros) Friday night at AutoZone Park.

                   

Anthony Garcia was 2-for-4 with a double, a run and three RBI for the Redbirds (16-22), and Tommy Pham and Patrick Wisdom also had two hits for Memphis. Pham swiped his third base of the season, and Alberto Rosario was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.

 

The slugfest started with five combined runs in the first inning with the big blows coming on home runs. Jon Singleton hit a three-run shot for Fresno (16-24) in the first, his ninth of the season, and David Washington had a two-run blast, his fifth, for the Redbirds in the home-half. Washington's bomb was his second in two games and extended his hitting streak to a Redbird season-best 11 games. He has a hit in 12 of the 13 games he has played in Memphis.

 

The Grizzlies scored a run in the top of the third, and Memphis sent nine to the plate and exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 7-4 lead after three frames. Pham doubled and Washington walked, and both moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch to allow Pham to score on a Nick Martini groundout to short.

 

Back-to-back walks to Wisdom and Dean Anna loaded the bases, and A. Garcia ripped a two-run double down the line to give Memphis a 5-4 lead. Rosario followed with a two-run single, and Memphis had its largest lead of the game heading into the fourth.

 

But the Grizzlies did not hibernate after falling behind, as Fresno tied the game at seven with a three-run fifth thanks to a three-run Matt Duffy home run.

 

Memphis came right back with the eventual winning run in the bottom of the fifth after A. Garcia singled home Wisdom, who doubled and went to third on an Anna bunt single.

 

Despite not scoring again, the Redbirds were outstanding on the mound and in the field in the final four Grizzlies at bats to earn the win. Anna saved the tying run with a diving play up the middle in the sixth to end the inning, Juan Gonzalez stranded runners on second and third in his inning of work in the eighth and Sam Tuivailala induced a 5-4-3 double play in the ninth en route to his fourth save of the season.

 

Ryan Sherriff earned the win in relief of Arturo Reyes.

                                                                                                                                     

The Memphis-Fresno series resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m. The Redbirds will have a replica Yadier Molina Cardinals jersey giveaway for the first 1,500 fans and a Cardinals full-zip hooded sweatshirt theme ticket, as well as postgame fireworks presented by Belhaven University. Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday concludes the series and the homestand at 2:05 p.m., and the first 2,500 kids ages 12 and under will receive an ice cream treat.

                                                     

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.