MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Redbirds had three hits in the final eight innings Sunday afternoon and lost game two of a four-game series to the Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A Giants), 4-2.
The Redbirds (14-20) scored a run on a two-out double by Nick Martini in the bottom of the ninth, but Dean Anna struck out to end the game as the potential tying run at the plate. Charlie Tilson extended his hitting streak to four games with a first-inning single, and Martini has now reached base in 24 of his last 28 games in which he has had at least one official plate appearance.
Jarrett Parker was 3-for-4 with two home runs for the River Cats (15-23), who won for the first time against the Redbirds in the last six games between the two clubs. Ty Blach gave up four hits and one run in six innings of work for the win, andDeck McGuire took the loss for the Redbirds and is now 1-5 on the season. In his five losses, he has received a total of four runs of support from the Memphis offense.
The Redbirds scored in the bottom of the first when Tilson singled, went to second on a Matt Williams knock and tagged on two flyouts to move to third and then score on Anthony Garcia’s sacrifice fly to center field.
Sacramento got runs in the second and fourth and two in the sixth and led 4-1 into the ninth, when the Redbirds picked up their second run of the game.
Alberto Rosario had a double in the fifth, and Corey Littrell, pitching for the second-straight day after being transferred from Double-A Springfield on Friday, struck out the side in relief in the seventh.
John Church pitched a scoreless eighth and has now given up just one run in his 14 relief appearances this season spanning 18.1 innings, and Sam Tuivailala needed just six pitched to retire the River Cats in the ninth.
Memphis and Sacramento conclude their series with Education Days on Monday and Tuesday at 11:05 a.m. on both days, and it is also King Cotton $1 Hot Dog Day on Tuesday.
After an off-day on Wednesday, Memphis’ eight-game homestand resumes with College Night on Thursday, Silky O’Sullivan’s Irish Heritage Night and green Redbirds hat giveaway on Friday, replica Yadier Molina Cardinals jersey giveaway, Cardinals full-zip hooded sweatshirt theme ticket and postgame fireworks next Saturday and another Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday to conclude the homestand on Sunday the 22nd.
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.
