Redbirds Fall Behind Early, Lose 6-3

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Starting pitcher Jordan Pries threw seven shutout frames as the visiting Tacoma Rainiers topped the Memphis Redbirds by a 6-3 score on Thursday afternoon at AutoZone Park.

With the loss, Memphis split the four-game season series with Tacoma and fell to 33-34 on the year. The club previously split a series with Nashville on the current homestand and welcome the Reno Aces (Triple-A Arizona) for four games beginning tomorrow.

Outfielder Tommy Pham (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R) collected two hits and his fifth homer of the season. Catcher Ed Easley (2-for-4) and outfielder Stephen Piscotty (2-for-4) each added two hits.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams went 1-for-4 in his fourth rehab appearance while recovering from a left calf strain. He lined out to the pitcher in the first inning, singled to right in the fourth, grounded into a double play in the sixth, and flew out to left in the eighth.

Memphis fell behind 5-0 for the second consecutive game, which began with a pair of RBI singles by Xavier Nady and Leury Bobilla. Abraham Almonte then broke it open with a three-run homer to left, his third of the season. Jabari Blash extended the Rainiers' lead to 6-0 in the fifth with an RBI single to right.

Pham provided all three runs in the eighth with one swing of the bat. With two men aboard, the outfielder sent his fifth homer of the season into the Redbirds bullpen, which was caught by catcher Dante Rosenberg.

Redbirds starter John Gast (0-1) surrendered five runs on six hits in four innings for the defeat.

Pries (4-5) scattered six hits, walked none, and struck out none for the victory for the Rainiers.

Memphis begins ?nal leg of their season-high 12-game homestand by welcoming the Reno Aces (Triple-A Diamondbacks) to AutoZone Park for a four-game series. The Redbirds will send right-hander Angel Castro (6-4, 3.50) to the hill to face Reno southpaw Andrew Chafin (1-0, 6.20).