SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Memphis Redbirds (66-38) slugged their way over the Salt Lake Bees (Angels) Thursday night, winning 12-3 in Salt Lake City. It was the fourth time this season that Memphis has hit five home runs in a single game.
Adolis Garcia stole the show for the Redbirds in the win. The slugging outfielder went 3-for-4 at the dish, hitting a career-high three home runs, and recording a career-high eight RBI. It is just the seventh three-home run game in Memphis history, and the second this season. Tyler O’Neill accomplished the feat earlier this week, hitting three home runs on Sunday.
Not only did the three home runs tie the franchise record, but his eight RBI also tied the franchise record. Garcia became just the second player in Memphis history to record eight RBI in a game, joining Tagg Bozied who did so on August 1, 2007. Since June 1, Garcia is hitting .320 (49-for-152) with 13 home runs and 38 RBI. Garcia has a career-high 17 home runs this season.
Garcia’s first home run came in the first inning and was a three-run blast, scoring Luke Voit and O’Neill. Oscar Mercado extended the lead in the second with a two-run shot of his own, his eighth of the season.
In the sixth, Garcia smoked an opposite field grand slam for his second home run of the game. His final home run came in the eighth inning, a solo home run, to round out the scoring. In the seventh, Alex Mejiaalso went deep, hitting his third home run of the season. The Redbirds have now hit at least five home runs in three of the last four games.
Starter Chris Ellis pitched well over five innings for the ‘Birds. He allowed three runs on five hits and six walks, while striking out three batters. Andrew Morales and Landon Beck each pitched two scoreless innings of relief to close out the game. The two combined to allow just three hits and a walk, while striking out five batters.
Memphis will now travel to Las Vegas for a four-game set. The Redbirds will return to AutoZone Park to play Sacramento and Fresno on August 1. For more information on single-game tickets and ticket mini-memberships, visit www.memphisredbirds.com/
