OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Memphis Redbirds (6-6) strung together 10 hits and stole a season-high four bases in a 7-2 win at Oklahoma City (Triple-A Dodgers) (7-6) Wednesday night, and Jeremy Hefner worked 6.0 innings of four-hit baseball in front of a home-state crowd.
Hefner, pitching in front of 200-plus friends and family members less than 60 miles from his hometown of Perkins, Oklahoma, allowed just four hits and fanned six to pick up his second win of the season. Jonathan Rodriguez paced the Redbird offense with a 2-for-4 showing and three runs scored, and he also drove in two and stole one of Memphis’ four bags on the night.
The Redbirds came into the game with four total steals in the first 11 games of the season. Charlie Tilson stole two bases in the game and was 2-for-6 at the plate. Carlos Peguero and Nick Martini also had two hits apiece, and Martini and Mike Ohlman each drove in a pair of runs.
Rodriguez started the scoring in the fourth inning with a walk and a steal of second base and quickly came around to score on a Martini single.
In the fifth, Tilson used small ball with a bunt single and a stolen base to set up a big inning for the Redbirds. After Greg Garcia walked, Rodriguez roped a two-run double off the wall to plate Tilson and Garcia and make the score 3-0 in favor of Memphis and chase Sam LeCure from the game. With two outs, Ohlman singled to score Rodriguez for the fourth Redbird run of the contest.
The Dodgers cut the lead in half with a pair of runs off Hefner in the bottom of the fifth, but the Redbirds got those back in the top of the seventh when Martini grounded out with a pair of runners on base and Ohlman produced a sacrifice fly.
Memphis scored its seventh run in the top of the eighth, and Juan Gonzalez and Sam Tuivailala followed Miguel Socolovich out of the bullpen and shut the door of the Memphis win, which avoided its second three-game losing streak of the season.
The trio of Memphis relievers gave up three hits in three innings to finish the game.
Memphis and Oklahoma City wrap up their series at 7:05 p.m. (CT) on Thursday and Friday nights. Memphis is back at AutoZone Park for a four-game series against Round Rock beginning Saturday at 6:35 p.m. Saturday’s game features a postgame fireworks show, presented by Tennessee Lottery, and Sunday’s game is Back In The Park theme day. All road games will be broadcast on MiLB.tv and on the radio on Sports 56 and 87.7 FM with Steve Selby on the call. The radio broadcast is also available on MemphisRedbirds.com.
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.
