PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (16-7) vs Round Rock Express (9-14) --

Published on April 29, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (16-7) vs Round Rock Express (9-14)

Sunday, April 29 - 2:05 p.m. (CT) - AutoZone Park (10,000) - Memphis, Tennessee

Game #24 - Home Game #12 (7-4)

RHP Ryan Helsley (NR) vs. RHP David Ledbetter (0-2, 4.87 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Round Rock Express will battle in the series finale of their five-game set. With the loss last night, Memphis dropped its first series of the year. Despite losing two straight games, the 'Birds still own the best start in franchise history. The 2017 team that went a franchise-record 91-50 started 12-11 through the first 23 games. This year's club is 16-7. Today's game will be televised regionally on CW30 and broadcast on memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby and Pete Pranica on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Ryan Helsley will get the ball for Memphis this afternoon. After appearing in a handful of games with Memphis in 2017, he started the season with Double-A Springfield this season. In four starts with Springfield he was 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. He made one regular season start with Memphis last season against Colorado Springs on Sept. 1. In that game, he pitched 5.0 innings of two-run ball, striking out five. He also made two postseason starts, going 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in 10.0 innings, striking out six batters.

The Express will send righty David Ledbetter to the mound to face the 'Birds. Ledbetter spent the last week on the disabled list and is 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA through four starts this season. He faced Memphis on Opening Day, taking the loss. In that game, he allowed three earned runs on five hits and three hit-by-pitches to take the loss in 5.0 innings of work.

HISTORY WITH ROUND ROCK: The Redbirds and Round Rock Express have played every year dating back to 2005. Since that time, the 'Birds lead the all-time series record with a slight advantage at 115-99. At home, the 'Birds lead the series 59-47, and lead it 56-52 on the road. Memphis and Round Rock faced off in the season-opening series at the beginning of the month. Memphis won four of five games against the Express. The Redbirds dominated on both sides of the ball in the series. At the plate, the 'Birds hit .330 (62-for-188) as a team, collecting 18 extra-base hits, including 7 home runs. The 'Birds also pitched well, collecting a 3.48 ERA in those five games, pitching 44.0 innings, allowing 17 earned runs, while striking out 40 Express batters.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Seven stolen bases is two behind Mercado for PCL lead

BARON: Joins St. Louis organization after spending entire career in Seattle organization

GARCIA: Is hitting .298 in 59-career Triple-A games with 16 doubles, three triples, and five home runs

KELLY: Third stint with Memphis; spent second half of 2017 on St. Louis roster backing up Yadier Molina

MEJIA: Fourth stint with Memphis, appearing with team in each of the last four years; made MLB debut last season

MERCADO: Nine stolen bases leads the PCL; recently ended an eight-game hitting streak

MUNOZ: Joins the team after spending the first three weeks of the season with St. Louis; hit first homer on 4/23

O'NEILL: Hit six home runs in 12 games before making MLB debut on April 19 at Chicago

RAVELO: Second season in organization and with team; helped lead Memphis to PCL Pennant in 2017

SCHROCK: Ranks third in the PCL in hits and is the second-hardest to strike out

TOVAR: Second season with Memphis; has hits in 10 games this season

VOIT: Played in the first game of the season before going on the Disabled List; Redbirds went 9-3 in absence

WISDOM: Reigning PCL Playoffs MVP; hit career-high 31 home runs for Memphis last season

BY THE NUMBERS

16-7 is best 23-game start in franchise history. The 2017 team that had the best record in franchise history started 12-11 through first 23 games

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds dropped yesterday's contest with Round Rock 7-5, despite launching two home runs.

Sean Gilmartin pitched well in a spot start for the 'Birds, his second of the year. He lasted 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out two before handing things over to the bullpen.

The bullpen pitchers struggled, allowing six runs to score. Only one of four relievers did not allow a run. Derian Gonzalez allowed two runs in 1.1 innings, Arturo Reyes took the loss after allowing three runs in 1.0 inning, Sam Tuivailala also allowed one run in 1.0 inning. John Brebbia was the lone reliever to not allow a run. He went 2.0 scoreless frames, striking out four.

On the offensive side, Wilfredo Tovar led the charge, going 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and three RBI. Patrick Wisdom also launched a solo home run in the fourth inning, his third of the year.

BEST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY: The Redbirds have been on fire to start the 2018 season. After the 5-2 road trip, and three-game sweep over Iowa, Memphis has moved far past the 2000 team that started 10-4 for the best start in franchise history. The 2017 team, which finished 91-50 last season, the best mark in franchise history, started 12-11 through its first 23 games. This year's squad is 16-7 through the first 23 games.

BYE, BYE BASEBALL: For the second-consecutive game, the 'Birds launched two home runs. After Memphis scored all four of their runs via the long-ball on Friday, they scored three of their five runs last night via the long-ball. Patrick Wisdom launched his third homer of the year to the opposite field to leadoff the fourth inning and put the 'Birds ahead 2-1. Wilfredo Tovar followed suit a few batters later, crushing his second homer of the year, a two-run shot to give Memphis a 4-1 lead.

LIGHTS-OUT STARTERS: The starting rotation for the Redbirds this season has been outstanding. The starters have a combined record of 12-2, have struck out 114 batters, have allowed just 35 earned runs, surrendered only five homers and 40 walks, all combining for a 2.58 ERA. Through 22 games, Memphis starters have twirled 12 quality starts.

SHOW A LITTLE MERCY, MERCADO: Outfielder and No. 13 prospect in the organization, Oscar Mercado, has proven he can field and run the bases, but since the start of the 2017 season, his bat has started to show promise, as well. Mercado has already had an eight-game hitting streak this season, and after homering last night, he now has a six-game hitting streak. Last season at Double-A Springfield, Mercado hit a career-high .287, 33 points higher than his previous career high of .254. So far this season, Mercado is hitting .321 (25-for-78). In 141 games since the start of 2017, Mercado is hitting .292 (162-for-555), and has stolen 48 bases. A three-time stolen base champion (2014, 2015, 2017) Mercado comes into today's game with a PCL-leading nine stolen bases, two ahead of teammate Randy Arozarena.

STRUGGLING LATE: The Redbirds have dropped three of four games in this series to The Express. They won the second game of the doubleheader Thursday 2-1. In their three losses this series, they have struggled offensively late. After scoring a run in the first inning of the first game of the doubleheader, the 'Birds' bats managed just four more baserunners for the last six innings. Express pitching sat down 17 of the final 21 batters. In Friday's loss, the 'Birds scored four runs in the fifth inning, but only managed three more baserunners in the last four innings. After Carson Kelly hit a homer in the fifth, Memphis managed two singles and a walk, and 10-straight Redbird batters were sent down to end the game. In yesterday's loss, Memphis scored four runs in the fourth before being sent down 10-consecutive times. They recorded just three more singles across the final five frames.

BULLPEN WOES: Despite a solid performance from spot starter Sean Gilmartin last night, Memphis dropped its second-straight game to the Round Rock Express. Gilmartin allowed one run through 3.2 innings of work, his longest outing since June 17 last season (4.2IP). Three of Memphis' four relievers allowed a run, with Arturo Reyes taking the loss after allowing three runs in one inning. So far this season, the bullpen is 4-5 with six blown saves in 16 chances, and has an ERA of 4.08.

SETTLING DOWN: Friday night's starter, Dakota Hudson, has had a solid start to the 2018 season. In his fifth start of the year last night, he pitched 6.0 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, two earned runs, and two walks, while striking out five batters. Since being called up to Triple-A at the end of last season, the righty has started 12 regular season games. In those games, he is 4-1 in 66.1 innings with an ERA of 4.22 and is holding batters to a .277 (71-for-256) batting average.

BREAK OUT THE GOLD MEDALS, THESE GUYS CAN RUN: While the Redbirds have proved they can smash the baseball, starting the season by notching at least one extra-base hit in 19 of the first 22 games, they have also proved that they can put runs on the board by dominating on the base paths. Two weeks ago, they stole five bases as a team for the first time since June 13, 2016 at Nashville, and also stole four bases in an inning against Iowa last week. The 'Birds have now stolen 28 bases as a team through the first 22 games of the season, and have been caught 11 times, good for a .718 stolen base percentage. The 28 stolen bases are two behind Colorado Springs for the PCL lead. Memphis and Colorado Springs are the only two teams in the league with at least 20 stolen bases. New Orleans sits in third with 19 steals.

GOMBER'S GONE CRAZY: Starting pitcher Austin Gomber was called up to the Cardinals today for his MLB debut. Gomber was on a roll since his season-debut on April 7. In three starts since then, Gomber has thrown 21.2 innings of five-run ball, and has struck out 23 batters. In his last start on Monday, he pitched 8.0 shutout innings, allowing six hits and no walks, while striking out 16 batters. The 16 strikeouts bested his previous career-high of 11 strikeouts, which he set last season. The 16 strikeouts also tied the franchise record for most strikeouts in a game (Lance Lynn 9/10/10), and bested the regular-season strikeout record of 15 set by Anthony Reyes (8/14/05) and Bill Pulsipher (9/3/05).

GIVE ME GUILMET: After spending the 2017 season in Japan trying to get his stuff back, reliever Preston Guilmet is turning heads out of the Memphis bullpen. The veteran righty has been manager Stubby Clapp's most reliable arm out of the 'pen. So far, he has made eight appearances, spanning 13.0 innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs, while striking out 18 and holding batters to a .122 (5-for-41) average. Guilmet leads the PCL with five saves, is tied for second with seven games finished, owns the second-best batting average against among relievers, and is second in fewest baserunners per nine innings pitched at 5.54.

PITCHING PROWESS: Memphis' 2017 pitching staff was one of its main reasons for success. The 'Birds led the PCL in ERA (3.77), which was a franchise record (3.89, 1998 and 2003), and Memphis was the only club in the PCL with a team ERA under 4.20. They have gotten off to a hot start this season, as well. Memphis boasts a 3.14 ERA through the first 23 games, including a 2.59 ERA and 12 quality starts from the starting rotation. The 3.14 team ERA is third in the PCL behind Nashville (2.57) and Oklahoma City (2.80). Memphis pitching has also combined to strike out 67 batters in the last six games.

FINALLY, SOME RUNS IN THE FIRST: After scoring seven-first inning runs in the series against Iowa, and another one Thursday, the Redbirds are now outscoring opponents 13-to-8 in the first inning this season. Last season, the 'Birds dominated the competition in the first, outscoring them 118-to-51. So far this season, Memphis is outscoring opponents 113-to-71, but the majority of those runs have come in the middle innings.

WINNING WAYS: The 2017 Redbirds became the winningest club in the franchise's 20 seasons with their 84th win on Aug. 21 against New Orleans. The previous record was 83 wins, set by the 2000 team. The 'Birds have continued their winning ways to begin the 2018 season. They have started 16-6, and have the best 22-game start in franchise history.

FASTEST TO 100: With a win last week, second-year manager Stubby Clapp secured his 100th regular season win as manager of the Redbirds. The accomplishment made him the fastest manager in Redbird history to reach 100 games. He also sits at sixth on the all-time win list for the Redbirds and has the best winning percentage at .652. Clapp's regular season record now sits at 107-57.

2017 PCL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

START THE SLOW CLAPP: In 2017, first-year skipper Stubby Clapp led the Redbirds to their best season in franchise history. The 'Birds soared to a 91-50 record in the 2017 regular season and added six more wins in the PCL playoffs to win 97 total games on the year. Clapp was named the 2017 PCL Manager of the Year for his efforts, and was also named the 2017 Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year. Clapp became the first minor league manager in the history of the St. Louis organization to win the Baseball America award. Clapp also earned the organization's prestigious George Kissell award.

FOR THE RECORD:

- Memphis' 91 wins in 2017 were the 10th-most in 119 seasons of professional baseball in Memphis dating back to 1877, and the season's .645 winning percentage was fourth-best

- Memphis was one of four teams in MiLB in 2017 with 90+ wins (Trenton Thunder [AA], 92-48; West Michigan Whitecaps [A], 91-45; Chattanooga Lookouts [AA], 91-49; Memphis Redbirds [AAA], 91-50)

- Memphis went 41 games over .500 during the regular season, the most by a PCL club since Albuquerque was 56 games over at 94-38 in 1981

- The Redbirds won the PCL American Southern Division by 22.0 games, and since divisions were established in the PCL in 1963, only two other teams won their division by 20 or more games (1970 Spokane Indians, 26.0 games; 1981 Albuquerque Dukes, 25.0 games)

- Memphis ended the season with its best ERA in franchise history (3.77) (3.89, 1998 and 2003), matched its best fielding percentage (.984) (.984, 2014), and had its third-best batting average (.278) (.284, 1999; .279, 2004)

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 29, 2018


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