The Memphis Redbirds rallied late to earn a 6-4 victory over the Durham Bulls on Monday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Trailing 3-0 into the seventh inning, Alec Burleson stepped to the plate with a man at second base and worked an 11-pitch at-bat that ended in an RBI single to put Memphis on the board. After a bloop single from Luken Baker put runners at the corners, Cory Spangenberg lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to bring Memphis within a run.
After the first two batters struck out to start the top of the eighth inning, Memphis rattled off four straight hits starting with a Scott Hurst single. Moises Gomez, who pinch ran for MLB Rehabber Tyler O’Neill in the seventh, stepped to the plate and lofted an RBI double to left center that tied the ballgame. Burleson immediately broke the tie with an RBI single to center, giving Memphis a 4-3 lead. Baker would cap off the frame with a monster-blast to left field, his 13th of the season.
Durham did not go quietly, however. In front of a 10,757 home crowd, the Bulls loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and forced Memphis to go to Zack McAllister (S, 2) with two-outs in the inning. McAllister would walk a run in but got the next batter to ground out and end the game.
Grant Black (1-0) earned his first Triple-A win after tossing 1.1 scoreless frames. David Hess (0-1) took the loss after Easton McGee tossed seven innings for Durham. Aaron Brooks started for Memphis and allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out a season-high six batters. O’Neill went 2-for-3 with a double to start his second MLB Rehab assignment with Memphis this season.
The Memphis Redbirds (44-35) return to action on Wednesday, July 6 against the Durham Bulls (42-37) following an off-day. LHP Garrett Williams is expected to make his second start with the Redbirds.
For more information and for tickets, fans can visit memphisredbirds.com or call 901-721-6000.
