Jerome Williams spun a complete game five-hitter in a 2-0 Memphis win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A Brewers) Saturday night in front of 8,034 fans at AutoZone Park.
The veteran needed just 105 pitches to finish his first complete game since May 1, 2012, when he threw a complete game, three-hit shutout with the Los Angeles Angels against the Minnesota Twins. It was the first complete game shutout by a Redbird since Tim Cooney on June 2, 2015 against Las Vegas.
Except for a first-inning triple to the second batter of the game, all of the Sky Sox (27-30) hits against Williams were singles. At one point from the end of the third through two outs in the eighth, Williams retired 15-straight Colorado Springs hitters. He finished the game setting down 19 of the final 21 Sky Sox he faced.
That first-inning triple was erased trying to tag on a flyout by a beautiful throw from Nick Martini to Michael McKenry at the plate. Memphis took advantage of the momentum in the home-half of the first, when Kolten Wong singled and scored on a Jose Martinez base hit.
The 1-0 lead held until Memphis (25-34) added an insurance run in the seventh when Breyvic Valera walked and scored three batters later when Charlie Tilson singled and the throw scooted away from the first baseman.
Colorado Springs brought the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Williams got a lineout in the eighth and a pop out and a flyout in the ninth to finish the game.
The win was Memphis’ fourth shutout victory of the season.
Wong reached base three of the four times he stepped to the plate in the game. Memphis’ other hits in the contest were a double by Valera and singles by Tilson and McKenry.
The series between the Redbirds and the Sky Sox concludes tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. (CT) on Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday, and the first 2,500 kids ages 12 and under will receive a free ice cream treat. Kids may also run the bases after the game.
For tickets or for more information on the 2016 Redbirds season, contact the Redbirds front office at (901) 721-6000 or visit www.memphisredbirds.com.
