MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Will Middlebrooks was 4-for-5 with two home runs and a triple, including a go-ahead homer in the top of the 10th, as Colorado Springs (Triple-A Brewers) took game two of the series with Memphis, 7-6.
Jose Martinez went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored for the Redbirds (24-34), and Kolten Wong was 2-for-6. Nine different Redbirds had at least one of the team’s 13 hits in the contest.
Memphis found itself down 4-0 after two-and-a-half innings, but the Redbirds battled back and led 6-4 heading into the eighth.
Tonight’s fourth inning was almost identical to last night’s ninth inning, both in importance and in how the inning played out. In both innings, the Redbirds came from behind to take the lead, and both innings began with a sequence of single, single, single, bases loaded hit by pitch and bases loaded walk leading into a Wong at bat.
The Redbirds trailed 4-0 before Friday’s fourth inning and led 5-4 coming out of it, and Memphis was down 5-2 in last night’s ninth before winning 8-5.
Starter Arturo Reyes retired the final four hitters he faced into the fourth inning, and combined with relievers Justin Wright and Ryan Sherriff set down 11-straight Sky Sox in the middle innings to give the offense time to string its runs together.
Colorado Springs (27-29) plated two in the eighth inning to tie the game at six, and Memphis stranded a pair of runners in both the eighth and ninth innings to move the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Middlebrooks homered off Corey Littrell to put the Sky Sox ahead 7-6, and a one-hit single by Wong was left on base in the home-half as Charlie Tilson and Tommy Pham struck out to end the game.
Memphis left 12 runners on base in the contest.
The Redbirds and the Sky Sox play game three of their series tomorrow at 6:35 p.m., and the first 1,500 will receive a replica Redbirds jersey. There is also a theme ticket that includes a Yadier Molina Garden Gnome, and fans can enjoy a Prince-themed edition of postgame fireworks.
The series concludes on Sunday at 6:05 p.m. on Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday, and the first 2,500 kids ages 12 and under will receive a free ice cream treat. Kids may also run the bases after the game.
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.
