Back-to-back big innings fuel Redbirds' comeback win
Published on May 3, 2005 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â The Memphis Redbirds, trailing 5-0 entering the fifth inning, scored four times in the fifth and five more runs in the sixth and held on to edge the Omaha Royals 9-8 Monday night in front of 1,475 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Royals starter Dennis Tankersley blanked the Redbirds through the first four innings, but lost command of the strike zone in the fifth, walking three batters and hitting another. Wes Wilkerson (2-2) came on in relief with Omaha still leading 5-2, with one out and the bases loaded. He gave up an RBI single to Scott Seabol and a sacrifice fly by Chris Duncan made it 5-4. On that play, Pete Zoccolillo was caught in a rundown between second and third as the Royals maintained a one-run lead.
But, in the sixth, Memphis sent ten batters to the plate. John Gall opened the inning by reaching on an error by Omaha shortstop Alejandro Prieto. After a strikeout and a walk issued by Wilkerson, four straight Redbirds delivered run-scoring hits, including a go-ahead RBI double by Hector Luna and a two-run double off the bat of Raul Gonzalez.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth and the bases full of Royals, Aaron Guiel greeted lefty Tyler Johnson by smacking a two-run double to right to cut the Redbirds' lead to 9-7. However, Adrian Brown, who had singled and scored in the first and hit a two-run homer in the second, tapped out to Johnson to end the eighth.
In the ninth, Memphis turned to closer Toby Borland. The veteran right-hander saved six games in eight appearances against Omaha while pitching for Albuquerque in 2004. And he logged his second save in as many outings against the Royals this season, although he allowed a one-out single to Paul Phillips and a two-out RBI single to Justin Gemoll that made it 9-8. Chad Santos, who had flied out to deep left field in the eighth inning sent an even deeper fly ball to the foot of the warning track, but with the wind blowing in from the northwest it came down in Gonzalez' glove for the final out of the contest.
It was Borland's fifth save of the season and the win went to former Omaha right-hander Shawn Sedlacek (1-1), who fired five-and-a-third scoreless innings of relief.
Game 2 of the series is Tuesday at 7:05: RH Anthony Reyes (2-1, 3.20) vs. LH Jimmy Gobble (1-1, 7.71). Air-time is 6:45 on Magic 1490 and www.Oroyals.com.
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