Zephyrs Drop Series Finale In Memphis

The Memphis Redbirds used a four-run third inning to rally past the New Orleans Zephyrs and take the series finale at AutoZone Park on Thursday afternoon, 7-4. Memphis took three of four games in the series.

The Zephyrs scored single runs in each of the first three frames to build a 3-1 lead, tallying runs on RBI singles by Gaby Sanchez and Michael Ryan and a sacrifice fly by Brett Hayes.

But starting pitcher Burke Badenhop allowed four consecutive hits in the third inning, and a one-out RBI double by Allen Craig put the Redbirds on top.

Joe Mather had three RBI for Memphis.

Badenhop (0-1) was lifted after giving up an RBI double to Nick Stavinoha in the fifth, and took the loss.

The Redbirds bullpen yielded only an unearned run in five innings, with Royce Ring (1-0) tossing two innings to pick up the win.

Game Notes: The Z's have scored a run in the first or second inning in seven of their first eight games ... The Z's have outscored the opponent 15-10 in the first two frames ... Gaby Sanchez added two hits and has hit safely in seven consecutive games ... New Orleans went 4-4 on the season's first road trip.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs open the 2009 home schedule on Friday evening at Zephyr Field. The Z's Dallas Trahern (0-0, 4.76) matches up against RH Nick Green (0-0, 9.00) for the Nashville Sounds. The game starts at 7PM with a fireworks show following the game. RADIO: AM 690 WIST.

April 15 - Zephyrs 9, Memphis 3

Brett Sinkbeil pitched six solid innings and added a pair of hits and three RBI for the New Orleans Zephyrs in a 9-3 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Wednesday.

New Orleans sent 11 hitters to the plate in the first inning, scoring seven runs on six hits. The Z's led 3-0 with two men on in the first when Memphis intentially walked Dave Matranga to face the pitcher with two outs. Sinkbeil then drilled a bases-clearing double over the head of left fielder Jon Jay, the first career Triple-A hit for the pitcher.

On the mound, Sinkbeil worked six innings, struck out five and allowed three runs for his first Triple-A victory, rebounding from a rocky season debut when he surrendered nine runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings against Nashville.

The Z's added a Jai Miller home run in the fifth inning. Miller and Matranga each led the Zephyrs with three hits.

The Redbirds' scheduled starter, Mitchell Boggs, was scratched due to a promotion to the St Louis Cardinals. In his placed, Memphis used a emergency starter Katsuhiko Maekawa, who suffered the loss by pitching five innings and allowing eight runs.

Michael Wood pitched three scoreless innings and earned the save in his season debut for the Zephyrs.

Game Notes: New Orleans placed pitcher Ryan Tucker on the DL before the game with inflammation in his knee ... Michael Wood was added to the club from extended spring training ... The win for Sinkbeil is the first win for a Zephyr starting pitcher this season ... The Z's matched their season high with 15 hits in a game ... Z's hurlers had been averaging five walks per game, but issued just one free pass in the contest.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and Redbirds meet in the final game of the series at 1:00 PM Thursday at AutoZone Park. Memphis leads series two games to one. New Orleans will start RH Burke Badenhop against RH Adam Ottavino. RADIO: AM 690 WIST.

April 14 - Memphis 8, Zephyrs 3

The Memphis Redbirds scored three in the first and added four additional runs in the second and defeated the visiting Zephyrs 8-3 at Autozone Park on Tuesday.

Allen Craig drilled a two-run homer in the first inning, and the Redbirds never looked back. Leading 3-1, Memphis sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs on four hits in the second inning.

New Orleans starter Ryan Tucker exited the game in the second after allowing seven runs and six hits to suffer the loss.

Memphis starter Clayton Mortensen pitched five solid innings, allowing one earned run off of two hits and picked up the win.

The lone offense for the Z's was provided by outfielder Michael Ryan, who had three hits of the club's five hits.

Game Notes: The Z's pitchers issued five walks in the game and have allowed at least four base on balls in each of their first six games ... First baseman Gaby Sanchez had a fourth inning single to extend his hit streak to five games ... The Zephyrs starting pitchers are 0-3 on the young season with a 10.97 ERA working just over 3 innings per game.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and Redbirds meet for the third game of the series at 7PM Wednesday at AutoZone Park. New Orleans will start RH Brett Sinkbeil against RH Mitchell Boggs. RADIO: AM 690 WIST.

April 13 - Memphis 5, Zephyrs 2

The New Orleans Zephyrs outhit the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park on Monday night, but stranded 12 baserunners in dropping the series opener, 5-2.

John Lindsey and Michael Ryan delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the first inning to put the Zephyrs into the lead, but they were held scoreless the rest of the way.

Memphis shortstop Tyler Greene homered in the bottom of the first to cut the Z's lead in half, and the Redbirds took the lead with a three-run third against Zephyrs starter Daniel Barone.

Nick Stavinoha and Allen Craig had consecutive RBI singles to chase Barone from the game, and Jarrett Hoffpauir greeted reliever Jason Standridge with another run-scoring single, putting the Redbirds ahead 4-2.

Barone (0-1) took the loss, lasting just 2.2 innings and allowing four runs and four hits.

Redbirds starter Blake Hawksworth worked out of trouble in both the fourth and fifth innings, as the Zephyrs failed to score runners from third base with one out in both frames. Hawksworth (1-0) got the win, notching six strikeouts while yielding two runs and seven hits in five innings.

Game Notes: The Z's added infielder Andy Gonzalez from the Marlins. The 27-year-old has played parts of three seasons in the Majors with the White Sox, Indians and Marlins ... To make room on the roster, Matt Craig was assigned to Double-A Jacksonville ... The start of the game was delayed by 19 minutes due to short rainstorm prior to first pitch.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and Redbirds meet for the second game of the series at 7PM Tuesday at AutoZone Park. New Orleans will start RH Ryan Tucker against RH Clayton Mortensen. RADIO: AM 690 WIST.