NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Memphis Redbirds jumped out to a 6-0 lead after an inning and a half, which proved to make the difference in a 7-6 win Friday night at Nashville.
The Sounds (12-16) got within a run on two different occasions after that, but the Redbirds (11-14) got a key defensive play and clutch relief pitching to win their third game in the last four outings.
Jacob Wilson was 3-for-5 with a double, a grand slam and four RBI, and Jonathan Rodriguez homered and was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Anthony Garcia also had two hits, and eight Redbird starters had at least one knock. Memphis had a season-high 13 hits as a team.
Memphis scored six runs in the top of the second, with the big blow being Wilson’s grand slam. Garcia hit a leadoff double and scored on a Rodriguez single, and Alberto Rosario singled home Rodriguez three batters later after an infield single byNick Martini. Matt Williams walked, and Wilson hit the Redbirds’ first glam slam of the season and first since Cody Stanley vs. Reno on August 27, 2015.
The six-run second was Memphis’ highest-scoring inning of the season. After scoring 31 runs in the first four innings of the first 21 games of the season, Memphis has now scored 20 runs in the first four frames of the last four contests.
But after that, Nashville scored the next five runs and cut the lead to 6-5 before Memphis stopped the bleeding with a run in the fifth on a leadoff homer by Rodriguez, his third of the season and first in his last 56 at bats.
Nashville got a run in the seventh off Miguel Socolovich, but Martini threw out the potential tying run at second base in one of the better defensive plays of the season to keep the lead at 7-6.
Memphis could not add to it in the eighth or ninth, and Sam Tuivailala slammed the door and left the tying run on third to end the game and pick up his third save of the season.
Dean Kiekhefer earned his first win of the season with 1.1 innings of no-hit baseball in relief of starter Thomas Lee, who gave up five runs, two earned, in 4.2 innings.
Memphis and Nashville continue their series Saturday night at 6:35 (CT). After Monday’s series finale, the Redbirds head to Omaha for four games Tuesday–Friday before returning to AutoZone Park on Saturday, May 14 to play eight games in nine days. May 14 is Star Wars Night, Adam Wainwright Bobblehead giveaway and postgame fireworks.
The upcoming homestand also features Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday (May 15), two Education Days on May 16 and 17, King Cotton $1 Hot Dog Day (May 17), College Night (May 19), Silky’s hat giveaway (May 20), replica Cardinals Yadier Molina jersey giveaway and postgame fireworks (May 21) and another Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday (May 22).
The Redbirds are offering a Mother’s Day celebration ticket package, where fans will receive four Field Box tickets to the game on Saturday, May 21, four food vouchers for a hot dog and soft drink, a $25 gift card to Seasons 52 restaurant and the opportunity for a pregame family picture on the field, all for $89. The game also features postgame fireworks.
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.
