Redbirds Fall In Extra Innings, 3-2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Ty Kelly hit a home run in the top of the 12th inning to give the visiting Tacoma Rainiers a come-from-behind 3-2 win in the first game of a four-game series on Monday evening at AutoZone Park.
With the loss, Memphis (31-33) fell to 0-2 in extra-inning action this season and 2-3 over the first five games of its current 12-game homestand.
Both teams stranded a combined 24 runners and went 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position. The Redbirds came up empty twice with the bases loaded.
In his first rehab appearance while recovering from a left calf strain, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams went hitless in three plate appearances. He popped out to third in the first, struck out swinging in the third, and flew out to left field in the fifth. The 25-year-old was removed from the contest after his third plate appearance.
A pair of solo homers in the first two innings gave the Redbirds their only two runs. Greg Garcia led off the first with his seventh of the season, a line drive to left center. In the next inning, Tommy Pham went deep into the visiting bullpen in right center, his fourth on the year.
Tacoma scored in back-to-back innings to knot the contest at 2-2, beginning with an unearned run in the seventh to cut the lead in half. Abraham Almonte reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a throwing error, and came around to score on Logan Morrison's RBI single to left. The Rainiers cashed in a pair of walks in the next frame after Jabari Blash hammered a game-tying double to left off reliever Jorge Rondon.
Both starting pitchers came away with no-decisions. Memphis left-hander Tim Cooney scattered five base hits over six shutout innings, striking out three. Seattle Mariners rehabbing starter Taijuan Walker four hits (two homers) with a walk and three strikeouts over five innings.
Heath Wyatt (0-2) yielded Kelly's solo blast to begin the 12th frame, picking up the loss. Nick Greenwood (1.1 IP) and David Aardsma (2.0 IP) were effective in relief.
Logan Bawcom (2-3) and each Brandon Maurer (2) pitched scoreless frames to the game for Tacoma
The Redbirds and Rainiers continue their four-game series at 7:02 pm CT on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park. Right-hander Zach Petrick (3-3, 4.47) will toe the rubber against Rainiers righty Matt Palmer (1-2, 2.14).