The Memphis Redbirds avoided the sweep, taking the finale of a six-game series from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at 121 Financial Ballpark on Sunday night by the final score of 2-1.
Starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore was nothing short of phenomenal on Sunday night, tossing six innings of one-run baseball. The left-handed pitcher allowed just two hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters to earn his fifth win of the season.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, reliever Grant Black induced a fielder’s choice and struck out Victor Victor Mesa to end the game and record his first Triple-A save of the season.
On the hitting side, designated hitter Austin Allen drilled his first home run as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization to put Memphis ahead 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning. With the game tied in the seventh and the bases loaded, second baseman Roberto Baldoquin extended his season-high hitting streak to four games and put the Redbirds ahead for good.
First baseman Luken Baker was the lone Memphis hitter to reach base safely twice on Sunday, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Baker did not strike out for the fifth consecutive game, a season high for the right-handed hitter. He also reached base safely in each game of the series.
The Memphis Redbirds (55-49) return home to AutoZone Park on Tuesday, August 9th to take on the Indianapolis Indians, Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for game one of a six-game series with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.
