The Memphis Redbirds gave their fans an outstanding sendoff on Thursday evening at AutoZone Park, closing out their 2015 regular season home slate with a 3-2 victory over the division-rival New Orleans Zephyrs in the finale of a four-game series.
With the win, Memphis (70-70) took three of four from the Zephyrs and earned an 8-8 split in the 16-game season series. The Redbirds travel to Oklahoma City on Friday for a season-ending four-game series.
In his first start after being promoted from Double-A Springfield, Kurt Heyer began the contest with four shutout frames. He was followed by reliever Chris Thomas (2-0), who struck out two while hurling 2 1/3 scoreless for the win.
In his fourth rehab appearance for the Redbirds while recovering from a wrist injury, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. The 30-year-old struck out swinging in the first inning, flew out to left in the third, reached on an infield single in the fifth, grounded out to second in the seventh.
Memphis moved out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Aledmys Diaz, scoring catcher Ed Easley (2-for-4, R), who open the frames with a base hit to right-center.
The Redbirds scored their next run in the seventh on a pair of New Orleans throwing errors. With relief pitcher Justin Wright on first base after working a two-out walk, Zephyrs pitcher Scott McGough committed a failed pickoff attempt that moved Wright to third base. During the same play, New Orleans first baseman Vinny Rottino followed by air-mailing a throw in past the third baseman that allowed Wright to score.
Jeremy Hazelbaker (1-for-4) tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI triple to dead center, scoring Rafael Ortega (1-for-3, R, SB).
New Orleans scored both of its run in the ninth inning, beginning with a solo home run by Rottino. Reid Brignac followed with an RBI single later in the frame before Dean Kiekhefer recorded the final out in his second save.
The Redbirds end their 2015 campaign with a season-ending four-game series with the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Triple-A Dodgers) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Left-hander Nick Greenwood (12-6, 5.68) will toe the rubber in Friday’s 7:05pm CT series opener. The Dodgers have yet to name their starting pitcher.
