OMAHA, Nebraska – Tommy Pham bounced a two-run double down the left field line in the top of the 10th inning, leading the Memphis Redbirds to a 6-4 extra-inning victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) on Wednesday afternoon at Werner Park.
With the triumph, the Redbirds (16-11) improved to a Pacific Coast League-best 3-0 in extra-inning games this season. Additionally, Memphis won for the sixth straight contest, its longest streak since an eight-game winning streak from May 30 – June 6, 2015.
Paul DeJong led off the decisive 10th inning with a double and was followed by a walk to Wilfredo Tovar. Despite a failed sacrifice bunt, both runners moved up into scoring position on a wild pitch. Pham then delivered a high-chopping ball inside the third base line for the game-winning knock.
Rowan Wick nailed things down in the last of the 10th, working around a two-out walk to earn his first save of the year.
Memphis had to work from behind in the contest, falling behind on a Jorge Soler solo home run in the last of the first inning. The Redbirds eventually tied the game in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Rangel Ravelo.
An inning later, Memphis sent nine to the plate against the Omaha (13-12) bullpen to grab a 4-1 advantage. Patrick Wisdom led off the frame with a solo homer, his fifth of the year. The Redbirds then loaded the bases with two outs and added on via a Chad Huffman walk and a Luke Voit single.
The Storm Chasers came right back, though, with three runs of their own in the home half to tie the game at four. Josh Zeid settled for a no-decision for Memphis, allowing the four tallies on six hits in six innings of work. John Brebbia was strong in relief, tossing three scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
Pham notched a pair of doubles and two RBI to pace the Redbird attack. Harrison Bader and Tovar added two hits a piece as eight of the nine Memphis starters recorded at least one hit. The lone outlier was Huffman, who walked four times.
The series continues on Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. as the Redbirds look to win their seventh in a row and swipe the series in the process.
