MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Memphis Redbirds’ four-game overall winning streak and five-game home winning streak ended with a 5-4 loss to the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A Cubs) in the series finale Monday afternoon.
Memphis (32-36) came back from a deficit on two different occasions, but the Cubs (32-36) plated the deciding run in the sixth inning and the Iowa bullpen held the Redbirds to two hits in their final four at bats. The four-game winning streak matched Memphis’ season long, and the five-game winning streak at AutoZone Park was a season best.
Matt Williams had two hits and scored and drove in a run for Memphis, and Breyvic Valera was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run. Randal Grichuk had a hit in the third, and Jacob Wilson doubled in the fourth. Alberto Rosario and relieverCorey Littrell had the other hits for Memphis.
The Redbirds fell behind after a half-inning but scored two in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Rosario singled, moved to second on a Littrell sacrifice bunt and scored on a Williams base knock. Williams came around on Grichuk’s base hit two batters later.
Iowa responded with two of its own in the fourth to regain a 3-2 advantage, but Memphis answered back yet again with another pair of runs in the fourth and led 4-3. Wilson doubled and Valera singled to start the inning, and Williams scored while Valera advanced on a Rosario sacrifice fly. Littrell then helped his cause with a single that scored Valera.
But the Cubs tallied a run in both the fifth and sixth innings, and the Redbirds were held scoreless on two hits and a walk in their final five trips to the plate.
Entering the game, Memphis was the only team in the Pacific Coast League or the International League to be 9-2 in its last 11 games.
The Redbirds hit the road for six games in four days at Colorado Springs tomorrow–Friday, with doubleheaders on Wednesday and Thursday, before returning to AutoZone Park Saturday through next Tuesday.
The upcoming homestand features a replica Cardinals 2006 World Series Trophy giveaway on Saturday, as well as a Princess & Pirates Night Theme Ticket, Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday and College Night on Tuesday for the finale.
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.
