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PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (19-8) vs Oklahoma City Dodgers (18-6)

May 3, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (19-8) vs Oklahoma City Dodgers (18-6)

Thursday, May 3

- 7:05 p.m. (CT)

- AutoZone Park (10,000)

- Memphis, Tennessee

Game #28

- Home Game #16 (10-5)

RHP Dakota Hudson (3-0, 3.90 ERA) vs. RHP Guillermo Moscoso (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Oklahoma City Dodgers will face off in the series finale of this four-game set. It also marks the end of the Redbirds' nine-game homestand. Memphis grabbed the win in a wild game last night, 8-7. The Redbirds will travel to Nashville and Oklahoma City after tonight's game. Today's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call, and in St. Louis on KTRS 550 AM.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Dakota Hudson will get the ball for the Redbirds tonight. Hudson has started five games for the 'Birds this season, and is 3-0 with a 3.90 ERA in those starts. In his last start against Round Rock, Hudson pitched 6.0 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, two earned runs, and two walks, while striking out five batters. This will be his first-career appearance against the Dodgers after being sent to Triple-A at the end of last season. So far, Hudson has not allowed a home run this season.

The Dodgers will send right-hander Guillermo Moscoso to the mound to face Hudson. Moscoso has made five appearances this season for Oklahoma City, including two starts. In his two starts, he has pitched 9.0 total innings, allowing nine hits, and just one earned run, while striking out 10 batters. He earned his first win of the season in his last start.

HISTORY WITH OKLAHOMA CITY: The Redbirds and Oklahoma City Dodgers have played every year dating back to 1998. Oklahoma City owns the all-time series record at 168-153. Memphis owns the all-time record at Memphis at 83-72, while Oklahoma City owns the road series record at 63-96. The Dodgers were the only team to post an above .500 record against the Redbirds in 2017. They narrowly took the season series with eight wins, compared to Memphis' seven wins.

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; has two hits in seven games so far

GARCIA: Has struggled in last 12 games, going just 7-for-42 after starting season hitting .350 (13-for-37)

KELLY: Has caught 20 of 27 games, is hitting .275 (11-for-40) with eight RBI and five walks in last 11 games

MEJIA: Recorded hits in back-to-back games 4/29-4/30, after going hitless in his previous six games

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

MUNOZ: Hit first homer on 4/23; five hits in his last 12 at-bats, as well as two RBI

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

RAVELO: Hit first home run of the season Sunday, and is now hitting .282 on the season

SCHROCK: Has just 10 hits in last 38 at-bats after starting season hitting .397 (23-for-58)

TOVAR: Is hitting .500 (13-for-26) in last 10 games with one double, two homers, and nine RBI

WISDOM: Has hit four homers this season, all at home, and is currently in a 9-for-39 (.230) slump over last 13 games

BY THE NUMBERS

19-8 is best record in all of Triple-A baseball. Only one other Minor League team has 19 wins, the Jupiter Hammerheads of Advanced A

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds won a wild game that had a bit of everything last night, 8-7 over the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Both starting pitchers struggled in last night's game. Memphis starter Daniel Poncedeleon lasted just 3.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits and five walks.

However, the offense backed him and the bullpen to give the 'Birds the win. All eight position players recorded a hit, with six of them recording at least two hits. In a game that saw 15 runs scored and 27 hits combined, there were only six extra-base hits, none of which were home runs.

Max Schrock (2-for-4), Tyler O'Neill (3-for-5), Yairo Munoz (2-for-5), Patrick Wisdom (2-for-4), Carson Kelly (2-for-5), and Wilfredo Tovar (2-for-4) led the charge on offense. Kelly recorded two RBI, and Schrock, O'Neill, Wisdom. Randy Arozarena, Tovar, and Rangel Ravelo all collected one RBI on the night.

Sean Gilmartin earned the win for the 'Birds. He came in with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, and needed just one pitch to get out of the jam. Derian Gonzalez, and John Brebbia also pitched for Memphis, with Brebbia getting the save.

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 16-11 through its first 27 games. This year's squad is 19-8 through the first 27 games.

TOP TWO TEAMS BATTLE IT OUT: The Memphis Redbirds and Oklahoma City Dodgers own the two-best records in all of Triple-A baseball. The Redbirds sit at 19-8, the only team in Triple-A with 19 wins, while the Dodgers sit at 18-6. Only one other Minor League team has at least 19 wins, the Jupiter Hammerheads (19-7) of Advanced A. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is one of three Minor League teams to have exactly 18 wins, along with the Delmarva Shorebirds (18-8) and the Augusta GreenJackets (18-7), both of Class A. Only four Major League teams have better records than the Redbirds and Dodgers. The Red Sox sit at 22-8, the Diamondbacks sit at 21-9, the Yankees are 20-10, and the Astros are 20-12.

YOU GET A HIT, AND YOU GET A HIT: Last night, the Redbirds and Dodgers combined for 27 hits, only six of which were for extra-bases. Memphis fell just short of tying its season-high hits total, notching 16 last night. The Dodgers pounded out 11 hits, marking 27 between both teams. Only three Dodgers had multi-hit games, while six Redbirds notched multi-hit performances.

TYLER'S TIME: Tyler O'Neill is picking up right where he left off before making his MLB debut last month with the Cardinals. O'Neill appeared in six games for St. Louis, making just one start, and garnering just seven at-bats. While he didn't record a hit in those at-bats, he notched his first Major League RBI on a sac fly on April 22 in a win over Cincinnati. O'Neill couldn't be stopped before being called up. The slugging outfielder had appeared in 12 games, making 11 starts, and was hitting .388 with six homers and 18 RBI. He also had a 10-game hitting streak in those games. After going 0-4 with a strikeout in his first game back, he now has four hits in his last two games, including three last night. The slugging outfielder went 3-for-5 on the night, recording a run scored, and an RBI.

SETTLING DOWN: After getting off to a shaky start this season, veteran reliever Sean Gilmartin has been nothing but consistent in his last four appearances. In his first four relief appearances of the season, he gave up seven earned runs in just 4.0 innings, giving him a 15.57 ERA. However, since making a spot-start in game two of a doubleheader at Omaha on April 19, Gilmartin has been lights-out. Including his April 19 start, Gilmartin has appeared in four games since his rough start to the season, making spot-starts in two of them. In 8.2 innings since then, he has allowed just two earned runs giving him a 2.25 ERA in his last four appearances. He was the first reliever out of the 'pen last night, and earned the win, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out three.

MAX GETTING BACK ON TRACK: After starting out his first season at the Triple-A level at a blistering pace, infielder Max Schrock hit a bit of a road bump, but seems to be getting his feeling back at the plate. In his first 13 games of the season, Schrock was hitting .397 (23-for-58). However, in his next eight games, he hit just .222 (6-for-27), and went hitless in back-to-back games for the first time all season. He has collected hits in three of his last four games, and has notched a hit in back-to-back games for the first time since he ended a seven-game hitting streak on April 19. He was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, a run scored, and a walk in last night's game.

CAN'T BE STOPPED: Infielder Patrick Wisdom had a career-year last season, hitting a career-high 31 home runs. He got off to a quick start this season, as well, hitting more for average than for power. Through his first 10 games, he was hitting .308 with two homers and 12 RBI. He then struggled over the next nine games, hitting just .200 with four total RBI. Since going hitless in both games of a doubleheader against Round Rock last week, he has recorded a hit in four of his last five games, including two straight. In that stretch, he is 6-for-18 (.333) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, three walks, and just three strikeouts.

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT: Infielder and Cardinals' No. 17 prospect Yairo Munoz had a hot spring and started the season on St. Louis' roster. Since being optioned two weeks ago, Munoz struggled to remain consistent, but seems to be finding his stride the last few games. In his first 11 games with Memphis, the young infielder was hitting just .250 (9-for-36) and struck out nine times. However, he has been on a tear in this series with Oklahoma City. In the first three games of the series, he has recorded five hits in 12 at-bats, along with notching two RBI, and three runs scored, while striking out just two times.

SHARP ON THE MOUND: 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 3.31 ERA through the first 27 games, including a 2.73 ERA and 14 quality starts from the starting rotation. The 3.31 team ERA is second in the PCL, only behind Oklahoma City (2.80).

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Last season, the PCL Champion Memphis Redbirds ended the season tied with a franchise-best .984 fielding percentage, matching the 2014 Redbirds who accomplished that. So far this season, the 'Birds are second in the PCL in fielding percentage at .986, behind only Albuquerque (.988). Memphis has made just 14 errors as a team, and has allowed only one passed ball. Memphis also owns the fifth-best fielding percentage in all of Triple-A baseball. The Rochester Red Wings of the International League sit atop the leaderboards with a team fielding percentage of .990.

BETTER SIDE OF THE STRIKEOUTS: Memphis is among the PCL leaders for strikeouts by the pitching staff, and is towards the bottom of the league in strikeouts by batters. The pitching staff has struck out 240 batters through the first 27 games (8.9/game). The 240 strikeouts ranks fourth among all PCL teams, behind only Las Vegas (254), Fresno (253), and El Paso (246). 'Birds batters are also towards the bottom of the league in total strikeouts. Memphis batters have struck out 192 times through the first 27 games. Only Oklahoma City (181) and Omaha (191) have struck out less than Memphis.

BULLPEN WOES: Despite overall dominance from the starting rotation, the Redbirds' bullpen has struggled this season. Through the first 26 games, the bullpen is a combined 4-5 with an ERA of 4.19 in 86.0 innings, allowing 40 earned runs, just one less than the starting pitchers have allowed in 141.2 innings. The bullpen has been tagged for nine homers, one more than the starting pitchers have. The Redbirds are 6-5 in the last 11 games, and in those games, the bullpen has pitched 41.1 innings, allowing 21 runs, and 19 earned runs, good for a 4.16 ERA.

PCL PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Starting pitcher Austin Gomber was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week today after his 16-strikeout performance last Monday. 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). After that performance, he was called up to the Cardinals on Sunday 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.

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)

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