PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

GAME NOTES: Memphis Redbirds (19-9) at Nashville Sounds (12-14)

Published on May 4, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (19-9) At Nashville Sounds (12-14)

Friday, May 4 - 6:35 p.m. (CT) - First Tennessee Park (10,300) - Nashville, Tennessee

Game #29 - Road Game #13 (9-3)

RHP Jack Flaherty (3-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. RHP Frankie Montas 0-3, 6.19 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds will kick off a four-game series tonight at 6:35 p.m. in Nashville. This will be the first time the two teams have met this season. Memphis is coming off a 2-2 series split with Oklahoma City, while Nashville is coming off a series loss to Colorado Springs. Today's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Jack Flaherty will get the ball for the 'Birds tonight. Flaherty will be making his first start for Memphis since April 19 when he earned the win over Omaha in game one of a doubleheader. In that game, he pitched all seven innings, allowing just one earned run, while striking out six batters. Flaherty also made one start for St. Louis on April 28 against Pittsburgh. In that game, he pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs, taking the loss. With Memphis this season, he is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 20 innings. Between Memphis and St. Louis this season, he is a combined 3-1 in 30.0 innings, allowing nine earned runs, while striking out 33 batters in his five games, good for a 2.70 ERA. Flaherty has faced Nashville twice in his career. In two starts against the Sounds last season, the righty was 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA. He pitched a total of 13.0 innings, allowing four earned runs, while striking out 12 batters.

The Sounds will send right-hander Frankie Montas to the mound to face Flaherty. Montas has struggled in his five starts this season. So far, he is 0-3 with a 6.19 ERA. Through his five starts, he has pitched a combined 16.0 innings, allowing 18 hits and 11 earned runs, while striking out 15 batters. He has faced the Redbirds once in his career. In that start in 2017, the righty pitched 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit, while walking two and striking out five Redbirds.

HISTORY WITH NASHVILLE: The Redbirds and Nashville Sounds have played every year dating back to 1998. The Sounds hold the all-time series record at 168-149. They also own the all-time record both in Memphis and in Nashville at 72-88 and 77-80, respectively. Last season, the 'Birds took the season-series win, grabbing the win in eight of 14 games. It marked the first time since 2013 that Memphis had topped Nashville in the season-series. In 2017, Memphis held a slight edge, both on the mound and at the plate, against the Sounds. Memphis batters hit .263 against Nashville pitching, compared to .257 at the plate from the Sounds. Memphis pitchers also held a 4.05 ERA on the mound, compared to a 4.33 ERA by the Sounds.

BIRD BITES

BARON: Recorded first multi-hit game of the season in last night's loss; also notched first double since 9/2/17

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; seven hits in his last 16 at-bats, as well as two RBI

O'NEILL: Hit six home runs in 12 games before making MLB debut; has hits in two of four games since being optioned

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

SCHROCK: Has just 13 hits in last 42 at-bats after starting season hitting .397 (23-for-58)

TOVAR: Is hitting .433 (13-for-30) in last 11 games with one double, two homers, and nine RBI

VOIT: Hit just .184 (7-for-38) in 11 games since coming off DL; recently was recalled to STL, but did not make appearance

WISDOM: Has hit four homers this season, all at home, and is currently in a 10-for-43 (.233) slump over last 14 games

BY THE NUMBERS

6.4 runs scored per game in 19 wins this season. Memphis is averaging just 2.1 runs in nine losses this season

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds dropped a close game last night to the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 1-0.

The game was a pitcher's duel from the get-go. Memphis starter, Dakota Hudson, had one of the best starts of his young career, and the best start in his Triple-A career.

The righty was dominant over 8.0 innings. He pitched 7.0 innings of shutout ball, allowing just five hits. In the eighth inning, the lone run of the game crossed the plate after Oklahoma City's leadoff hitter reached on an error.

The run was unearned, and the bats couldn't get going, as Hudson took his first loss of the season.

At the plate, Memphis notched eight hits. Max Schrock led the way, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Yairo Munoz was 2-for-4 with a double, and Steven Baron was 2-for-4 with a double.

A TALE OF THE TOP TWO TEAMS: The Memphis Redbirds and Oklahoma City Dodgers split a back and forth series this week, with Oklahoma City taking the opener and finale, while Memphis took the two games in the middle. The 'Birds and Dodgers are the only two Triple-A teams with 19 wins. In all of Minor League baseball, only four teams have at least 19 wins. The Redbirds and Dodgers, as well as the Delmarva Shorebirds (19-8) of Class A, and the Jupiter Hammerheads (20-7) of Advanced-A. Both the Redbirds and Dodgers also have better records than their parent clubs. The St. Louis Cardinals sit at 17-12, while the Los Angeles Dodgers sit at 14-17. In their four-game series, the Redbirds out-hit the Dodgers, posting a .276 batting average, while the Dodgers posted a .264 average. The Dodgers won the series on the mound, posting a 3.18 ERA, compared to a 4.00 ERA from Redbirds pitching.

MORE HONORS FOR GOMBER: On Monday, starting pitcher Austin Gomber was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week today after his 16-strikeout performance last Monday. Yesterday, he was named the Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. 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. The honor marked the sixth-straight month that a Redbirds player had won the Cardinals Minor League Player or Pitcher of the Month honors.

DOMINANT DAKOTA: Last night's starter Dakota Hudson was brilliant in his sixth start of the year. The lanky right-hander pitched 8.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run and five hits, while walking one and striking out four batters. He earned the tough-luck loss, his first of the year, last night. He cruised through 7.0 innings before the leadoff hitter in the eighth reached on an error by the Memphis defense. After a hit, a sacrifice bunt, and a fielder's choice, the run came around to score, giving Oklahoma City the 1-0 win. So far this season, Hudson has been one of the best starting pitchers for the 'Birds. Through six starts, he is 3-1 in 35.2 innings pitched. He has allowed just 12 earned runs and nine walks, while striking out 24 batters, good for a 3.02 ERA. The 8.0 innings he pitched last night tied his career-high, which he set last season while with Double-A Springfield.

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 four of his last five 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. Last night, he provided most of the offense for Memphis, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles. It was his first three-hit game since April 16 against Iowa. After his recent hot-streak, Schrock is now hitting .346 on the season. He is tied for fourth in hits in the PCL with 36 and is tied for fourth in the league at hardest to strikeout, striking out just once every 12.56 plate appearances.

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.

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 five of his last six games, including three straight. In that stretch, he is 7-for-22 (.318) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, three walks, and just five strikeouts.

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 10 appearances, spanning 15.0 innings, allowing just six hits and two earned runs, while striking out 22 and holding batters to a .122 (6-for-49) average. Guilmet is tied for second in the PCL with five saves, is tied for the league-lead with nine games finished, is tied for third with the lowest batting average against for a relief pitcher, and leads the league in fewest baserunners per nine innings pitched for a reliever at 5.40.

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 3.19 ERA through the first 28 games, including a 2.59 ERA and 15 quality starts from the starting rotation. The 3.19 team ERA is second in the PCL, only behind Oklahoma City (2.68). The Redbirds also lead the PCL in quality starts, with 15 by the starters. Memphis and El Paso are the only two teams that have at least 10 quality starts, with El Paso having 13. Salt Lake has yet to post a quality start this season.

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 246 batters through the first 28 games (8.8/game). The 246 strikeouts ranks fourth among all PCL teams, behind only Las Vegas (263), Fresno (258), and El Paso (254). 'Birds batters are also towards the bottom of the league in total strikeouts. Memphis batters have struck out 200 times through the first 28 games. Only Oklahoma City (187), Tacoma (197), and Omaha (198) have struck out less than Memphis. Fresno batters are tied with Memphis with 200 strikeouts on the year.

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.

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

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 4, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central