MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Redbirds dropped their fifth straight game on Sunday night, losing 6-1 to the visiting Albuquerque Isotopes in the second game of a four-game series at AutoZone Park.
The five-game losing skid is new a season-low for the Redbirds (62-60), who remain 6.5 games back behind first place Round Rock in the PCL American Southern Division.
For the second night in a row, Albuquerque limited Memphis to just one run. Infielder Greg Garcia accounted for two of the Redbirds’ five hits, while infielder Dean Anna singled to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Redbirds starter Marco Gonzales (0-4) scattered nine hits for a pair of runs over 4 1/3 innings for the loss. The southpaw also walked one and struck out a pair with 95 pitches (54 for strikes).
Albuquerque moved out to a 2-0 lead with runs in the second and third innings, beginning with a Jeremy Barfield RBI groundout to short. Dustin Garneau added a sacrifice fly in the next frame.
Memphis scored its lone run in the bottom of the third as Alex Mejia doubled to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gonzales, and came home on Ortega’s RBI single to right.
The Isotopes put the game away with runs in four consecutive innings beginning in the sixth. Trevor Story’s RBI base hit to left accounted for the first run, followed by a Jeremey Barfield sacrifice fly. After Christian Adames recorded a run-scoring single in the eighth, Angelys Nina’s RBI single in the ninth capped off the scoring.
Memphis and Albuquerque continue its series at 7:05pm at AutoZone Park on Pink Night with Susan G. Komen Memphis-MidSouth. Right-hander Zach Petrick (7-5, 4.31) will toe the rubber against Isotopes right-hander Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 7.05).
The Redbirds will be wearing specialty pink jerseys to promote breast cancer awareness, which will be available for purchase via a silent auction during the game. The Bouffants will play live music in the AutoZone Park Plaza during pregame when gates open at 6pm.
