The Memphis Redbirds put together a complete baseball game on Friday night, as timely hitting and powerful pitching propelled them past the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A affiliate, Milwaukee Brewers) 9-2. The six-game series is now tied at two games apiece.
The ‘Birds (3-7) nearly busted the game open in the top of the first, when they loaded up the bases with nobody out via Scott Hurst and Evan Mendoza singles coupled with a José Rondón walk. However, a double play ball and a fly out snuffed out the threat. Hurst did come home to score on the groundball double play.
Memphis had the bases loaded again in the third inning, and this time they took advantage. With two outs in the frame, Lars Nootbaar roped a double down the left-field line, scoring Hurst, Mendoza, and John Nogowski in the process. The ‘Birds tacked on insurance when the very next batter, Dennis Ortega, sliced a single into center and scored Nootbaar.
From there, Bernardo Flores, Jr. took over. The lefthander wowed in his start for Memphis, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts and just one intentional walk. Flores, Jr. utilized a wicked curveball and a well-placed fastball to record six swinging strikeouts. He retired eight of the last 10 batters he faced.
Zack Thompson relieved Flores, Jr. in the sixth inning and struggled initially, surrendering a two-run home run to the first batter he faced, Zach Green. After escaping the sixth with no further damage, the former first-round pick settled down, surrendering just two hits and no runs the rest of the way with three strikeouts. Thompson was appearing for the second time this season, his first in a relief role. He would eventually be credited with the save.
The ‘Birds gave Thompson insurance in the seventh, plating four runs on two hits plus three walks. Nootbaar drove in two more runs with a single – the former USC Trojan had five RBIs on the night after entering the game with three runs driven in on the entire season.
The Memphis Redbirds are proud to welcome fans back to AutoZone Park this season. The team returns home next week from Tuesday – Sunday (May 18-23) for a six-game series against the Louisville Bats. Ticket information can be found at memphisredbirds.com.
