Alex Reyes, making his third start of the season and at the Triple-A level, struck out 11 and gave up just two hits in six innings and picked up his first win for the Memphis Redbirds in a 3-2 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs (Triple-A Marlins) Wednesday night at AutoZone Park.
After surrendering a two-run home run in the top of the first, Reyes had three 1-2-3 innings the rest of the way, including striking out the side in the second and fourth frames. Reyes’ 11 strikeouts are a Redbird season high, and he has struck out 26 in his 15 innings pitched for a K/9 rate of 15.6. Reyes threw 63 of his 97 pitches for strikes.
The Redbirds’ (22-28) three-game winning streak matches a season long (April 13-15), and the three-straight wins at AutoZone Park are a season-best stretch.
Memphis pitching has limited its last three opponents to a total of 14 hits in 27 innings, including holding New Orleans (21-30) to three Wednesday night.
Michael McKenry was 2-for-4 with two triples, two runs scored and an RBI. He has three triples in four games as a Redbird after having eight in his 11-year baseball career entering the last four contests. Patrick Wisdom and Tommy Pham also had two knocks apiece for Memphis.
Ryan Sherriff and Juan Gonzalez finished the game for the Redbirds. Gonzalez picked up his fourth save of the season with two innings of work, and Memphis has now converted seven of its last eight save opportunities.
Memphis tied the game at two in the fourth, when Jose Martinez singled and scored from first on McKenry’s first triple of the game. McKenry then came around to score on an Alex Mejia groundout.
The Redbirds got the eventual game-winner in the sixth when McKenry again roped a three-bagger and scored on a Matt Williams single.
The game was delayed one hour and five minutes before first pitch by rain.
The Memphis-New Orleans series continues tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. (CT) with all-you-can-eat wings with a special ticket purchase, and it is also College Night at AutoZone Park where college students with a valid ID can purchase a discounted ticket in the Left Field TruGreen Bluff for $5. Domestic drafts are also $2 at the Left Field Bar.
The series concludes on Friday with a replica Cardinals 1946 World Series ring giveaway and postgame fireworks. Friday is also FedEx St. Jude Classic Theme Ticket night, and for $30 fans can get a Field Box ticket to the game and a one-day ticket to the upcoming golf tournament. The first 1,000 also receive a “Hush Y’All/Loud Y’All” golf paddle, and the Redbirds will be auctioning game-worn golf-themed jerseys and hats with proceeds benefiting the Redbirds Community Fund.
For tickets or for more information on the 2016 Redbirds season, contact the Redbirds front office at (901) 721-6000 or visit www.memphisredbirds.com.
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