Petrick, Whiting Fire Back-To-Back Seven-Inning, Complete-Game Shutouts In Twinbill Sweep
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Pitchers Zach Petrick and Boone Whiting fired back-to-back seven-inning, complete-game shutouts as the Memphis Redbirds swept the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in a doubleheader in front of 9,368 fans on Saturday night at AutoZone Park.
The two shutout victories improved the Redbirds to 5-2 in doubleheader action and gave the club their second twinbill sweep of an opponent this season. Memphis previously took both games from Iowa during a rain-delayed, curfew-suspended twinbill at AutoZone Park on May 28.
Winners of nine of their last 11 games overall since July 3, the Redbirds (49-49) move to third place in the PCL American Southern Division and are back to .500 for the first time since June 11 (33-33).
Memphis pitching has limited Colorado Springs to one run spanning 23.0 innings over the first three games of the series. Memphis looks to complete a four-game series sweep in Sunday's 6:05 pm series finale at AutoZone Park.
All three Redbirds runs in the doubleheader were via two home runs.
In the finale, first baseman Xavier Scruggs tattooed a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. It was the slugger's 10th home run of the season and 31st RBI since June 1.
Whiting (3-6) surrendered two hits, walked one, and fanned three over his seven innings for his third straight win. In his last six starts since June 15, Whiting has recorded a 1.67 ERA (6er/32.1ip), which is the tied with Albuquerque's Carlos Frias for the second-lowest ERA in the PCL behind Nashville's Jimmy Nelson (1.35).
Pedro Hernandez (6-5) gave up two runs and was charged with the loss.
The Redbirds and Sky Sox conclude their series at 6:05 pm on Sunday night at AutoZone Park. Left-hander John Gast (2-2, 6.61) will toe the rubber for Memphis against Colorado Springs righty and former St. Louis Cardinal Brett Tomko (2-2, 6.26). The Redbirds will be celebrating Rockey's birthday by giving away 1,000 Rockey t-shirts to kids and adults. After the game, all kids 12 and under will run the bases like the Redbirds.