The Memphis Redbirds clinched a series split by taking game the finale of a six-game series against the Nashville Sounds on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park by a final score of 7-6.
Redbirds catcher Austin Romine made his presence felt early in his first game as a member of the team. In the bottom of the first, Romine rang a ground-rule double into the Nashville bullpen to put Memphis up 2-0. The catcher added another big RBI in the bottom of the seventh with a single to plate first baseman Luken Baker and the Redbirds a 6-5 lead.
On the afternoon, Memphis batters walked seven times and got RBIs from four different players, including an important insurance run in the bottom of the eighth from Paul DeJong.
The Redbirds were also helped out by a pair of stellar outings from right-handed pitchers. Starter Matthew Liberatore tossed five innings, allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out five sounds to earn a no-decision. Aaron Brooks immediately followed in relief and finished the ballgame for Memphis, lasting four innings of three-run baseball to earn his third win of the season.
With the victory. Memphis moves to a game and a half behind the Nashville Sounds and into a second-place tie with the Columbus Clippers.
The Memphis Redbirds (38-28) head out to Victory Field in Indianapolis, Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Indians for a six-game series. Game one is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, June 21.
