Nick Greenwood hurled seven dominant innings and Jeremy Hazelbaker hit a grand slam in the Memphis Redbirds’ 9-0 shutout win over the visiting Oklahoma City Dodgers on Thursday at AutoZone Park.
Memphis (57-49) has won three in a row and nine of its last 11 overall to sit 3.5 games behind division-leading Round Rock in the PCL American Southern Division. The Redbirds look for the series sweep of the Dodgers at 7:05pm on Friday night at AutoZone Park.
Greenwood (10-3) scattered five hits and struck out two for his 10th win of the season, which ties Round Rock’s Ross Wolf for the league lead. The southpaw has recorded a win in seven of his last nine decisions.
The shutout was Memphis’ league-leading 11th of the season, as Justin Wright and Heath Wyatt preserved scoreless affair with shutout innings.
Eight of nine Redbirds in the starting lineup recorded a hit. Hazelbaker’s grand slam was his seventh of the season, while newest Redbird Matt Williams drove in three.
The Redbirds loaded the bases and jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, which began with an Alex Mejia infield RBI single to third. Williams followed with a three-run double down the left field line.
Hazelbaker’s grand slam highlighted Memphis’ five-run outburst in the seventh against Dodgers reliever Josh Ravin, who quickly loaded the bases. With the bases juiced and two outs, Tommy Pham worked a six-pitch walk that brought home the first run. Hazelbaker’s slam was the Redbirds’ third of the season.
The Redbirds wrap up their eight-game homestand with a 7:05pm CT series finale against the Dodgers on Friday night at AutoZone Park. Left-hander John Gast (5-7, 4.86) will toe the rubber against Oklahoma City righty Joe Wieland (6-4, 5.42).
