The Memphis Redbirds improved to 5-1 on the season for the first time since 2001 with a 5-1 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) Tuesday night in the home opener at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis.
The Redbirds blasted four home runs on the night, led by Carson Kelly’s two, one by Luke Voit for the third-straight game, and another by Harrison Bader leading off the bottom of the first for the Redbirds. Bader homered to lead off both the season opener April 6 at New Orleans and Tuesday’s home opener. The trio homered to lead off each of the first three innings this evening.
The Redbirds have now hit a Pacific Coast League-leading 12 home runs through six games this season. Memphis did not hit its 12th home run last season until game 25, which came on May 6.
Daniel Poncedeleon was outstanding through 5.1 innings of two-hit work in his Triple-A debut, striking out eight, walking one, and allowing just one run. Mark Montgomery, Zach Phillips, and Josh Lucas threw 3.2 shutout innings to close the win.
The Redbirds fanned 13 Sky Sox (3-2) on the night.
Paul DeJong joined Kelly and Voit with two hits in the game. The Redbirds pitching staff had limited Colorado Springs to three hits until the ninth inning, when the Sky Sox hit two singles to open the frame. But the Redbirds quickly ended the threat with a double play and a groundout to second to seal the victory.
In all five of its wins this season, Memphis has scored in the first inning.
The Redbirds continue their seven-game homestand with game two against Colorado Springs Wednesday night at 6:35. The homestand includes all-you-can-eat crawfish and Thirsty Thursdayon Thursday, a new-logo performance t-shirt giveaway on Friday, postgame fireworks presented by Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute on Saturday, and an Easter Sunday that includes a postgame candy drop from a helicopter and more.
For information on upcoming promotions, visit www.memphisredbirds.com/promotions. For more information on single-game tickets and ticket mini-memberships, visitwww.memphisredbirds.com/tickets.
