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PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Musica (29-41) vs Las Vegas Aviators (38-32)

June 17, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Música (29-41) vs Las Vegas Aviators (38-32)

Monday, June 17 - 6:35 p.m. (CT) - AutoZone Park (10,000) - Memphis, Tennessee

Game #71 - Home Game #35 (12-22)

LHP Evan Kruczynski (1-1, 6.21) vs RHP Jake Buchanan (3-5, 5.95)

BY THE NUMBERS

30 Hits allowed by the Redbirds pitching staff in two games against the Aviators. The staff had allowed just 29 hits in the previous three-game series to the Salt Lake Bees and have allowed at least 10 hits in four of five games during this homestand.

12 Number of Redbirds that have made their Triple-A debuts after Yariel Gonzalez got the start at third base yesterday. Gonzalez went 1-for-3 and launched a game-tying two-run home run in the 6th to cap off a six-run frame.

838 Games played by Rangel Ravelo at the minor league level before having his contract purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals today. Ravelo is in line to make his Major League debut in his first game appearance.

THE GAME

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds continue their seven-game homestand tonight in the third game against the Las Vegas Aviators of this four-game set. The Redbirds will become the Memphis Música for the first time at AutoZone Park this season, as part of Minor League Baseball's "Copa de la Diversión" series. The Redbirds dropped yesterday's contest by a score of 11-8, but rallied twice in the game, erasing a six-run deficit with six runs in the sixth. Yariel Gonzalez tied the game in that inning with a two-run blast, his first career hit at the Triple-A level. Tonight's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ABOUT COPA DE LA DIVERSION: "Copa de la Diversión," or "Fun Cup," is a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams' local U.S. Hispanic/Latinx communities. In 2019, Minor League Baseball had 72 teams participate this year, up from 33 teams in 2018, which was the first year of the Copa de la Diversión.

ON THE HILL: Left-hander Evan Kruczynski is scheduled to take the mound in tonight's contest and make his sixth Triple-A start and his 15th appearance overall in the 2019 season across all levels. In his last time out on Wednesday vs Salt Lake in the series opener, Kruczynski took no-decision (5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R/ER, 5 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR) in the Redbirds' 11-5 victory over the Bees. His one strikeout was a season-low across all levels and his five walks issued also matched a season-high overall. He has also allowed at least six hits in all of his starts, yielding an opponent's average of .342 (41x120). Kruczynski started the year at Double-A Springfield where he went 2-3, 6.64 (29 ER/39.1 IP) in eight starts for the Cardinals. In his last three starts in Springfield, however, Kruczynski allowed two earned runs of fewer in each of those starts. The 24-year-old's last Double-A outing was on May 13 vs. Arkansas, where he earned the victory (7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR) in the Cardinals' 4-1 victory over the Travelers. It marked his second straight quality start and his second consecutive win, while also setting season-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. Tonight will be his first time facing Las Vegas in his career. The Franklin, Wisc., native split time between Double-A Springfield and Advanced-A Palm Beach in 2018, combining to go 7-6, 3.50 (45 ER/115.2 IP) in 21 G/GS. Kruczynski is in his third professional season and has spent them all with the St. Louis organization.

The Aviators are slated to start right-hander Jake Buchanan in tonight's contest. The 29-year-old is scheduled to make his 14th start for Las Vegas this season. Buchanan has gone 3-5, 5.95 (43 ER/65.0 IP) in those 14 starts. In his last time out on Wednesday at Nashville, he suffered his fourth straight loss (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR) in the Aviators' 2-0 defeat to the Sounds. It was his fourth quality start of the season and his first since April 16. He started the season with three straight quality outings from April 5-16. He has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his 14 starts. Buchanan has yielded an opponent's average of .311 (80x257), but has allowed a .250 (10x40) average so far this month in two starts. Buchanan last pitched at the Major League level in 2017 with Cincinnati, and overall in his MLB career, he has gone 2-3, 4.73 (34 ER/64.2 IP). The Charlotte, N.C., native is in his tenth professional season his first with the Oakland organization. He has also spent time in the Houston, Chicago-NL, Cincinnati and Arizona organizations at various levels.

HISTORY WITH LAS VEGAS: The Redbirds have faced off against the Las Vegas Triple-A club every year since 1998 following the Pacific Coast League expansion. The Aviators are entering their first year as Oakland's top affiliate. Overall, the Redbirds lead in the all-time series 53-49, leading at AutoZone Park by a 31-23 margin and trailed at Cashman Field 22-26. The Redbirds will play their first game at the new Las Vegas Ballpark next season. The Redbirds have posted winning records against Las Vegas in just two of the last seven seasons and have only recorded winning records in just five of 21 seasons overall.

The Redbirds have played the Athletics' Triple-A club every year since 2000 (Sacramento 2000-14, Nashville 2015-18) and hold an overall record of 56-72.

Prior to this season, Las Vegas had played host to the New York Mets affiliate from 2013-18, where the Redbirds went 14-10. From 2009-12 as the Toronto Blue Jays affiliate, the Redbirds went 8-8 against. From 2001-08 as the Dodgers top affiliate, the 'Birds went 19-21. From 1998-2000 as the San Diego Padres Triple-A club, the Redbirds went 12-8 against.

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds (29-41) erased a 7-1 deficit with a six-spot in the bottom of the sixth, but the Las Vegas Aviators (Athletics) scored three runs in the top of the ninth and earned an 11-8 win Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park.

Not only did Memphis tie the game after trailing 7-1, but the Redbirds then equaled Las Vegas at 8 after falling behind 8-7.

In a tale of two halves of a game, Jake Woodford allowed seven runs on 10 hits in less than three innings, but he settled in and retired the last 10 Aviators he faced through 6.0 innings.

Trailing 7-1, Memphis sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth and tied the game at 7. John Nogowski and Conner Capel had back-to-back run-scoring doubles, and Kramer Robertson followed with an RBI single to make the score 7-5. Yariel Gonzalez brought the Redbirds all the way back with his first Triple-A hit, which was a two-run home run to right field.

Las Vegas (38-32) came out in the top of the seventh and scored to make it 8-7, but the Redbirds did not give up. Robertson singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a ground ball to the right side, and scored on a Randy Arozarena ground-rule double.

But the Aviators plated three runs in the top of the ninth to open an 11-8 lead, and the Redbirds went down in order to end the game.

Arozarena was on base four times with two doubles, and Capel had two doubles as well.

RAVELO GETS THE CALL: Prior to tonight's game Rangel Ravelo had his contract purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals and for the first time in his career, is headed to the big leagues. a 10-year veteran who has also spent time in the Chicago-AL and Oakland organizations in slated to make his Major League debut after 838 games at the minor league level across various levels. In 63 games with the Redbirds this season, Ravelo has batted .333, including .489 (22x45) in 12 games this month. He entered today ranked 8th in the Pacific Coast League in batting average, 12th in on-base percentage (.414), and 7th in hits. He also leads the Redbirds in all of those categories, including a team-high 17 multi-hit games.

ROSTER MOVES: Along with Ravelo, the following roster moves were made prior to tonight's game:

Edgar Gonzalez was transferred back to Single-A Palm Beach. Gonzalez made his Triple-A debut on Friday, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit.

Mike Hauschild was reinstated from the 7-Day Injured List and he is slated to make his first appearance with Memphis since April 8. Hauschild suffered the loss in his lone appearance for the 'Birds (1.2 IP, 6 H, 9 R/ER, 4 BB, 0 SO) against the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Infielder Chris Chinea was transferred from Double-A Springfield and he is line to make his Triple-A debut. The 25-year-old Chinea has slashed .275/.326/.489/.815 in 52 games for Springfield this season.

SALT LAKE SERIES WRAP: The Memphis Redbirds won their first home series since May 11-14 as they took two-of-three games against the Salt Lake Bees to open up a seven-game homestand. The Redbirds have won their series against the Bees in each of the last three seasons and have not dropped a set against since 2013. They are 8-3 against the Bees in their last 11 games at AutoZone Park.

The Redbirds scored 27 runs in the three games, including back-to-back 11 run performances in the first two games of the series. The 22 runs scored in the first two games surpassed the run total from the Redbirds' previous 10-game homestand, when they only scored 21 runs. The offense slugged a total of seven homers and collected 12 extra-base hits overall. Against Reno pitching, Memphis slugged their way to a .336 average (38x113) and had 12 players pick up multi-hit performances. The Redbirds also collected at least 10 hits in each game, marking the third time this season they have had a such a streak.

Rangel Ravelo continued his dominance at the plate, going 9-for-17 with two double, two home runs and five runs driven in. He collected his second four-hit game in the series opener and began the series reaching base safely in eight straight plate appearances. His 17 total multi-hit games lead the Redbirds this season. Also in the opener, Tyler O'Neill ended his lengthy home run drought (64 AB) with a towering drive out on to the bluff in left field. On Thursday, Kramer Robertson drove in a career-high five RBI, which also matched a Redbird season high in the team's 13-11 defeat. In that contest, Randy Arozarena drove in four runs, all with two outs, as well. In last night's finale, the Redbirds earned their second walk-off win of the season after Adolis Garcia singled home Edmundo Sosa in the 10th. It was the first walk-off since April 20, when Sosa ended the game against Round Rock with a two-run shot in the 10th. Garcia leads the Redbirds with 47 RBI this season.

The 'Birds starting staff went 0-0, 7.71 (12 ER/14.0 IP) fanning 11 batters while issuing 11 walks. Each starter allowed four earned runs and did not record a quality start. They also combined to allow four home runs and yielded an opponent's average of .300 (18x60). Anthony Shew rebounded from his last start at Tacoma on June 5, that lasted just 0.2 innings, but tossing 6.0 innings of four-run ball, while fanning six batters and issuing two walks. The Memphis bullpen went 2-1, 6.43 (10 ER/14.0 IP) with 19 strikeouts. Hunter Cervenka made his return from the Injured List on Wednesday and made two appearances during the series, allowing one run on two hits in the series opener and firing a scoreless seventh in last night's finale. Cervenka's 2.42 ERA leads all Redbird relievers with at least 10 games pitched. Edgar Gonzalez, who was transferred from Advanced-A Palm Beach yesterday, tossed 1.2 scoreless frames in his Triple-A debut. The Cardinals 2018 6th round pick had not pitched above Class-A ball until last night.

GOING TO THE SHOW: Following the contract of Rangel Ravelo being purchased today by the St. Louis Cardinals, the Redbirds have now had six members from their Opening Night roster get called up to St. Louis and make their first stint at the Major League Level. Ravelo joins Tommy Edman, Andrew Knizner and Lane Thomas as the fourth Redbirds position player to earn a call up, joining pitchers Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley. The six call-ups match the 2018 Redbirds who also had six players get promoted to St. Louis and they would all make their Major League debuts with the club. The 2017 Redbirds had nine players that would go on to make their MLB debuts.

TRIO OF DEBUTS: In Friday night's series finale against Salt Lake, the Memphis Redbirds had three players make their Triple-A debuts. Conner Capel, the organizations No. 26 prospect, got the nod to start in left field and singled in his first at-bat. He later homered his next time up to lead off the fifth and later added an outfield assist in the eighth to end the inning.

Edgar Gonzalez made an appearance out of the bullpen, tossing 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and issuing one walk. Gonzalez, in just his second professional season, was transferred from Palm Beach, where he had gone 4-7, 3.23 (23 ER/64.0 IP) in 13 games, 12 starts.

Irving Lopez entered the game as a defensive replacement after Evan Mendoza departed through injury and made two put-outs and had one assist in the field. He went 0-for-2 at the dish.

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