MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Corey Baker impressed in his Triple-A debut after being transferred from Double-A Springfield earlier in the day, and the Memphis Redbirds shut out the New Orleans Zephyrs (Triple-A Marlins) Saturday night at AutoZone Park, 4-0.
Baker allowed four hits, all singles, and struck out six while walking just one, in 6.2 shutout innings. Jose Martinez was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Randal Grichuk drove in two with an eighth-inning single that gave the Redbirds (35-40) some extra breathing room.
Charlie Tilson was 1-for-4 with two runs scored, which extended his hitting streak to eight-straight games.
Baker had three 1-2-3 innings on the night, and he retired nine-straight Zephyrs (36-38) and 14-of-15 around a single from the end of the second through the middle of the sixth innings. He walked the lead-off hitter in the second and then gave up a single, and both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. But Baker got two flyouts and a lineout to end the threat.
He threw 95 pitches on the night, and 62 were strikes.
The Redbirds took a 1-0 lead in the third, when Tilson singled with one out, advanced to second on an error by the catcher on a pick-off attempt and scored on a Martinez single.
The game remained 1-0 until Jacob Wilson homered with one out in the seventh, which was his first home run in 56 at-bats since May 6 at Nashville. He missed 29 games from May 13 to June 13 with an injury.
Grichuk singled home Tilson and Matt Williams, who reached on an error and walked, respectively, to give the Redbirds a 4-0 lead after eight innings.
Sam Tuivailala closed the game with 1.1 innings of relief and picked up his 11th save of the season. Miguel Socolovich pitched an inning in between Baker and Tuivailala, and gave up one hit.
The shutout win was Memphis’ fifth of the season.
Tomorrow’s game two starts at 6:05 p.m. (CT) and is a Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday, with kids 12 and under getting an ice cream treat, and kids may also run the bases after the game. After Monday’s 7:05 p.m. game, Tuesday’s finale is King Cotton $1 Hot Dog Night at 7:05.
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.
