Clutch Hitting Sends Redbirds To 7-4 Win
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Redbirds rode a three-run rally en route to a 7-4 victory over the visiting Tacoma Rainiers in the second game of a four-game series on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park.
Trailing 4-3 in the fifth, Memphis scored the final four runs of the game and were backed by 4 2/3 scoreless innings from relievers Heath Wyatt (1-2), Dean Kiekhefer, and Eric Fornataro.
Outfielder Stephen Piscotty (1-for-3, 2 R, BB) recorded his team-leading 19th double, while designated hitter Scott Moore had a pair of two-baggers and two runs batted in. Catcher Audry Perez recorded two sacrifice flies.
In his second rehab appearance while recovering from a left calf strain, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams went 1-for-4 with a run scored. He singled to right in the first, flew out to center in the second, struck out swinging in the fourth, grounded out to short in the sixth.
Memphis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Tacoma starter Matt Palmer (1-3). After Adams singled to right and Shane Robinson (1-for-5) was hit by a pitch, Moore smoked a line drive, two-run double off the center field wall.
The Redbirds tacked on their next run in the second on an infield throwing error by second baseman Nick Franklin, which allowed Luis Mateo to score from second base.
Tacoma scored its first run in the fourth and later took a 4-3 lead in the fifth to knock Memphis starter Zach Petrick from the game, beginning with a Logan Morrison opposite-field solo homer. Jabari Blash concluded the rally with a go-ahead, two-run double to straight center.
In the next frame, the Redbirds came through with the bases loaded on three occasions for three runs to retake a two-run lead. Jermaine Curtis singled home Piscotty for the first run, followed by a sacrifice fly by Perez. Later in the frame the bases loaded again and two outs, Robinson hammered a line drive single to center.
Memphis added an insurance run in the seventh as Curtis singled to right, advanced to third on a two-base throwing error, and scored on Perez's second sacrifice fly of the evening.
Petrick surrendered four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings for a no-decision.
Memphis and Tacoma continue its series at 7:05 pm on Wednesday night. Scott McGregor will toe the rubber for the Redbirds and will be faced by Rainiers right Andrew Carraway (2-4, 4.61).