Redbirds Give Up Early Lead, Lose 8-6 In Series Opener
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Memphis Redbirds squandered an early five-run lead and ultimately fell to the Oklahoma City RedHawks by a 8-6 margin in the opener of a four-game series on Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The Redbirds (27-29) have dropped nine of 13 games to Oklahoma City in the season series.
The bottom four batters in the Memphis lineup occupied by Tommy Pham (2-for-3, 2 R, BB), Jermaine Curtis (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R), Audry Perez (2-for-4, 2B, R), and Pete Kozma (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) produced nine of club's 13 hits and scored all five runs. The Redbirds also recorded five doubles for the second straight night.
Memphis batted around during a four-run rally against starter Jake Buchanan, who hurled 38 pitched to get through the second inning. The damage was highlighted by run-scoring doubles from Curtis and Kozma. Greg Garcia concluded the rally with an RBI single. In the next frame, Pham singled, stole second base, and came around to score as Curtis singled up the middle.
Oklahoma City rebounded by scoring six unanswered over two innings for a 6-5 lead, beginning with three runs on four hits in the third. Enrique Hernandez, Max Stassi, and former Redbird Adron Chambers did damage with RBI hits.
The RedHawks got three more runs in the next frame on a pair of bases-loaded walks by Scott McGregor and Kurt Heyer, followed by a Domingo Santana RBI single.
Memphis knotted the contest at 6-6 in the sixth as Perez doubled and scored on a game-tying base hot by Kozma. It would be the final run of the game for Memphis as a trio of RedHawks relievers combined to throw four scoreless frames.
In the bottom of the sixth, Oklahoma City went ahead for good at 8-6 as Jon Singleton cashed in a walk on a 0-2 pitch with a two-run bomb over the bullpen in right field. It was his team-leading 14th of the season.
McGregor was charged with six runs on five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He also tied a Redbirds franchise record with three hit batsmen for the second time this season, upping his total to 11 on the season.
Heyer (0-2) came away with the loss with two runs over 2 2/3 innings.
The Redbirds and RedHawks continue their series at 6:05 pm CT on Saturday night. Memphis' started is TBA. Oklahoma City will go with righty Paul Clemens (3-0, 0.50).