Z's Outlast 'Birds 4-3 in 16 innings

Metairie, LA - The frustration continued late into the night in suburban New Orleans as the Redbirds dropped their fifth game in a row to start the season. Monday night the New Orleans Zephyrs beat Memphis 4-3 in sixteen innings.

Matt Smith (0-2) took the hill for the Redbirds in the sixteenth, his fourth inning of relief. Brendan Harris led off with a double to right field. Larry Broadway's sacrifice put the potential winning run at third base, and Mike Vento followed with a fly ball to left field. The ball appeared deep enough for Harris to tag and score the winning run, but all doubt was removed when Chris Duncan dropped the ball.

The loss also spoiled the strongest performance by a Redbirds starting pitcher this season. Brad Voyles blanked New Orleans on two hits over six innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead.

Memphis scored the first run of the game when John Gall singled home Voyles from third base. Voyles had led off the inning with a double and advanced on a Juan Diaz single.

New Orleans tied the game in the seventh using the suicide squeeze. Larry Broadway doubled off Josh Kinney to start the inning and advanced o third on a wild pitch. Alberto Castillo then dropped down a perfect bunt to even the game at 1-1. The Zephyrs totaled three sacrifice bunts for the game.

The Redbirds answered back in the eighth inning when Chris Duncan singled and Juan Diaz doubled to score Duncan. The lead didn't last long as New Orleans tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Kenny Kelly singled and stole second base then broke for third on the next pitch and scored when George Lombard slapped a single through the vacated left side of the infield.

The game remained 2-2 until Juan Diaz led off the eleventh inning with a home run to left field. Not only did it give the Redbirds a 3-2 lead, but it was also their first long ball of the season, coming in their 51st inning of the season.

The Memphis bullpen couldn't hold that lead either. Alan Benes, beginning his second inning of relief, walked Brendan Harris then uncorked a wild pitch, moving Harris into scoring position. Broadway followed with a single that scored Harris and sent the game to a twelfth inning.

The Redbirds have gone to extra innings in two of their first five games, losing the season-opener to Oklahoma in thirteen innings.

NOTES: First baseman Brian Daubach, currently on the DL, has joined the team in New Orleans, but has not been activated...The New Orleans pitching staff leads the PCL with 61 strikeouts...Prentice Redman tied a franchise record by striking out five times last night.

Tonight's Probables:
Memphis - RH Anthony Reyes (0-0, 4.50)
New Orleans - RH Steve Watkins (0-0, 2.08)