Home Baseball Redbirds Fall In Nashville On Saturday, 4-1

Redbirds Fall In Nashville On Saturday, 4-1

by Michael Whitty

Xavier Scruggs Records Three Of Memphis’ Five Hits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Memphis Redbirds were handed a 4-1 defeat by the cross-state rival Nashville Sounds on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park in the fourth game of a five-game series.

With the loss by the Redbirds (60-55), Nashville takes an 8-7 lead in the Tennessee Lottery I-40 Cup Series with one game to play. The winner of Sunday’s series finale will claim the coveted Cup, due to Memphis retaining with a tied season series.

The Redbirds offense was unable to get things going Saturday, finishing without an extra-base hit for the second time in their last three games. The club also stranded seven and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

First baseman Xavier Scruggs broke out of a 1-for-24 skid, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base. Outfielder Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to seven games, while outfielder Rafael Ortega went hitless from the leadoff spot to end a season-best nine-game hitting streak.

Jake Smolinksi gave Nashville an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot to right off Redbirds starter John Gast (5-9).

The Sounds extended their lead to 4-0 in the next two frames on an infield groundout from a Joey Wendle in the second and Rangel Ravelo sacrifice fly from in the third.

Memphis’ lone run came in the sixth on Scruggs’ RBI single to center, scoring Pham from second base.

Gast was charged with four runs on six hits over six innings in his third straight losing decision. The southpaw also struck out one and walked a pair.

Right-handers Chris Thomas and Mitch Harris each followed with a scoreless frame in relief.

Memphis and Nashville wrap up their season series at 6:05pm CT on Sunday night at First Tennessee Park. Left-hander and PCL wins leader Nick Greenwood (10-3, 5.13) will toe the rubber for the Redbirds against Sounds southpaw Brad Mills (4-10, 4.09).

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