MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Deck McGuire followed Jerome Williams’ complete game shutout last night with an eight-inning two-hitter in a 5-0 Memphis win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A Brewers) Sunday night at AutoZone Park.
Coupled with last night’s 2-0 win, the Redbirds (26-34) have notched back-to-back nine-inning shutout wins for the first time since May 24 and May 25, 2013, when they blanked Round Rock 7-0 and 4-0.
The win also secured Memphis’ first series win of the season after 10 ties and five losses. Memphis also won its first series against Colorado Springs (27-31) last season, which came in the season’s seventh series.
McGuire was outstanding in his eight innings of work, as he gave up just two hits to go along with one walk and seven strikeouts. McGuire retired 11-straight from the end of the fourth through the start of the eighth inning, and he needed only 96 pitches to get through his eight innings.
The right-hander has won four-straight starts after losing six of his previous seven. Sunday’s performance was McGuire’s fourth of his professional career working at least 8.0 innings, but he had given up at least four hits in the previous three compared to Sunday’s two.
Including the last inning of Arturo Reyes’ outing on Friday, the Memphis starting pitchers have thrown 18-straight scoreless frames.
Kolten Wong was 1-for-3 with an RBI triple and two runs scored, and Tommy Pham drove in two in the second inning with a double to right-center. Charlie Tilson and Matt Williams drove in the other runs for the Redbirds, who held the Sky Sox to eight hits over the last 18 innings of action.
Miguel Socolovich finished the game for the Redbirds in relief of McGuire.
Dean Anna had a pinch-hit single and scored a run in the eighth, and he has reached base in his last three pinch hits and scored twice.
The Redbirds hit the road for four games at Nashville to start the week and are back at AutoZone Park Friday through next Monday to host the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A Cubs). The upcoming homestand features an Adult Performance T-Shirt giveaway on Friday, a Redbirds Beach Towel giveaway on Saturday along with a Kolten Wong Hawaiian Jersey theme ticket and postgame fireworks, and a Father’s Day celebration and Cardinals adults socks giveaway on Sunday.
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.
