MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Memphis Redbirds (43-30) led 1-0 until the eighth inning, before the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins) scored a run in the top of the eighth and the eventual game-winner in the top of the 10th to take game one of the series Thursday night at AutoZone Park, 2-1.
Five different Redbirds had a hit in the game, and Adolis Garcia drove in the club’s only run with an RBI single in the fourth inning scoring Luke Voit, who walked with one out.
Daniel Poncedeleon started and worked 3.0 innings in a scheduled short start, and he gave way to Landon Beck and Sean Gilmartin, who combined to toss 3.0 scoreless innings. In the top of the eighth, Conner Greene came on and issued a walk that scored on a single two batters later.
With the game tied at 1, Memphis struck out three times in the bottom of the eighth and went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, and New Orleans’ runner placed on second to start the 10th scored on a bases-loaded walk from Greene.
The Redbirds had the tying run on third and the winning run on second in the bottom of the 10th, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the ballgame.
Oscar Mercado stole his 16th base of the season in the game.
The Redbirds’ four-game series with New Orleans continues tomorrow night at 7:05, Saturday at 6:35 p.m., and Sunday at 2:05 p.m. For more information on single-game tickets and ticket mini-memberships, visit www.memphisredbirds.com.
