MEMPHIS, TN – The Memphis Redbirds continued the six-game road trip at Durham with a 6-4 loss to the Bulls on a rainy Friday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
After a 30-minute rain delay to start the ballgame, designated hitter Juan Yepez and the Redbirds wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Yepez clubbed his third Triple-A home run of the season in the top of the first inning.
With the game tied in the top of the fourth inning, right fielder Jordan Walker drilled his first Triple-A home run to give Memphis a 3-2 lead, Walker’s first hit with Memphis. Later in the inning, first baseman Luken Baker hit his 10th home run of the season. Baker has now hit a home run in four straight games and is tied for the International League lead in home runs.
Gordon Graceffo (1-2) tossed 5.0 innings in his rain-shortened start. The right-handed pitcher did not return to the game after an hour-and-14-minute rain delay at the end of the fifth inning. Graceffo allowed six runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three. Ryan Loutos and Grant Black combined for three scoreless innings in relief.
Despite back-to-back losses, Memphis remains in first place in the International League West. With the series tied at two, the Redbirds take on the Bulls at 5:35p.m. CDT on Saturday night for game five of the six-game series.
The Redbirds (17-8) return to AutoZone Park on Tuesday, May 2 to take on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at 6:45 p.m. to begin a six-game homestand. You can find more information on upcoming promotions at AutoZone Park here.
