MEMPHIS, Tennessee – After eight scoreless innings Thursday night at AutoZone Park, the New Orleans Zephyrs (Triple-A Marlins) scored four runs in the top of the ninth and ended Memphis’ three-game winning streak with a 4-1 win.
J.C. Sulbaran rebounded from two rough outings with his best showing of the season, working six innings and giving up just three hits while striking out six and walking one. Four of his six frames were 1-2-3 innings, and he had eight groundball outs to go along with his six punchouts.
Including Sulbaran’s six shutout innings Thursday night, Redbird (22-29) starting pitchers have thrown 26 scoreless innings in the last 27 over the last four games. New Orleans (22-30) ended with six hits Thursday night, and the Redbird pitching staff has held their last four opponents to a .159 batting average (20-126).
David Washington hit his 10th home run in 25 games as a Redbird in the bottom of the ninth, which also extended Memphis’ extra-base hit streak to 25 games. Including 22 games at Double-A Springfield to start the season, Washington has 15 home runs and 37 runs batted in this season. Carlos Peguero had two hits on the night.
The Zephyrs touched John Church for four runs, three earned, in the top of the ninth to set up the win. Memphis committed three errors on the night, two by its pitchers and one by its catcher.
Corey Littrell threw two shutout innings in relief of Sulbaran, and he has now allowed just one run in 11.0 innings in Memphis over eight games and a total of four in 26.2 and 21 games between Memphis and Springfield this season.
The series between Memphis and New Orleans, as well as Memphis’ quick four-game homestand, concludes tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. (CT) with a replica Cardinals 1946 World Series ring giveaway and postgame fireworks. Friday is also FedEx St. Jude Classic Theme Ticket night, and for $30 fans can get a Field Box ticket to the game and a one-day ticket to the upcoming golf tournament. The first 1,000 also receive a “Hush Y’All/Loud Y’All” golf paddle, and the Redbirds will be auctioning game-worn golf-themed jerseys and hats with proceeds benefiting the Redbirds Community Fund.
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.
