PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (23-34) vs Oklahoma City Dodgers (21-34)

Published on June 2, 2019 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (23-34) vs Oklahoma City Dodgers (21-34)

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

Game #58 - Home Game #29 (10-18)

RHP Alex Reyes (1-0, 2.61) vs RHP Dennis Santana (0-4, 5.34)

BY THE NUMBERS

42 Number of times that Redbird batters have struck out against Dodger pitching in this series, an average of 14 K's per game.

22 The American Southern division has handed the Redbirds 22 of their 34 losses this season.

11 Consecutive losses by the Redbirds. This is currently the second longest streak in franchise history.

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds look to snap a season-high 11-game losing skid tonight in the fourth and final game of this four-game series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers today, wrapping up their 10-game homestand. Edmundo Sosa's lead-off home run to begin the third in last night's contest tied the game, but that was the lone run of the game for the Redbirds as the Dodgers scored seven more times to pull away. Redbird batters struck out 16 times last night, setting a season-high. Today's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Alex Reyes is scheduled to be transferred from Advanced-A Palm Beach today and take the mound in today's game and make his first start with Memphis since April 25. Reyes has made five appearances, two starts, with the Redbirds this season, going 1-0, 2.61. His last start came with the Palm Beach Cardinals on Tuesday vs. Daytona, where he suffered the loss (4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) in the Cardinals' 5-2 defeat to the Tortugas. In his two starts at Palm Beach following his activation and transfer from the 7-Day Injured List on May 23, Reyes went 0-1, 1.93 (2 ER/9.1 IP) to go along with 11 strikeouts and just three walks. He was placed on the IL following his last start with the Redbirds on April 25 at Omaha. Reyes took no-decision (2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) in the Redbirds' 6-4 victory over the Storm Chasers. That outing marked the first time that Reyes had allowed a hit or a run this season with the Redbirds. Overall, opponents at the Triple-A level are batting just .129 (4x31). In his last start against Oklahoma City, Reyes twirled a one-hit gem and struck out 13 over 7.0 innings in the Redbirds 7-4 victory over the Dodgers at AutoZone Park. At one point in the contest, Reyes retired nine-in-a-row via strikeout en route to his third straight rehab start of 2018 with at least 12 strikeouts. The Elizabeth, N.J., native enters his seventh professional season and has spent them all in the St. Louis organization. The 24-year-old entered 2019 ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Cardinals system by Baseball America for the fourth straight year. He was also ranked as the No.5 right-handed prospect by the same publication.

The Dodgers are slated to start right-hander Dennis Santana in today's contest. The 23-year-old is scheduled to make his seventh start with Oklahoma City and his 11th appearance overall across all levels. Santana has gone 0-4, 5.34 (18 ER/30.1 IP) to go along with 40 strikeouts and 15 walks in his seven Triple-A starts and is allowing a .276 opponent's average (34x123). In his last time out on Tuesday at Omaha, Santana suffered the loss (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 1 HBP) in the Dodgers' 5-3 defeat to the Storm Chasers. He has fanned at least six batters in five of his seven starts and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of seven as well. Santana has made one start in his career against Memphis in his career, on May 24, 2018, suffering the loss (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) in the Dodgers' 7-4 defeat to the Redbirds at AutoZone Park. He began the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 0-0, 7.20 (4 ER/5.0 IP) in three appearances out of the bullpen. Santana made just one scoreless outing during his first Major League stint of the season. The San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, native is in his sixth professional season and has spent them all with the Los Angeles-NL organization. He entered the season ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Dodgers system by Baseball America.

HISTORY WITH OKLAHOMA CITY: The Redbirds have faced off against the Oklahoma City Triple-A franchise every year since 1998. The Redbirds trail in the all-time series 161-176 but hold a 93-76 advantage at AutoZone Park. The Redbirds have winning records against Oklahoma City in just six of 21 seasons, but only have losing records in 10 seasons. Last year, the teams faced off in the American Conference Finals of the Pacific Coast League playoffs, with the Redbirds winning the series 3-1.

This is 22nd-straight year that the Redbirds have faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Oklahoma City has been the Dodgers' top affiliate since 2015 and Memphis has a 30-32 record during that span. From 2009-14, the Albuquerque Isotopes was the organization's top affiliate and the Redbirds went 37-49. The Redbirds were also 12-20 against the Albuquerque Dukes from 1998-2000. From 2001-08, the Redbirds went 19-21 against the Las Vegas 51's. Overall, Memphis is 98-125 against the Dodgers' Triple-A club.

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Edmundo Sosa homered in the bottom of the third inning, but that was all of the Memphis Redbirds' offense in an 8-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Dodgers) Saturday night at AutoZone Park.

Sosa has homered in back-to-back games. He also singled in his next at-bat to finish 2-for-3. Three other Redbirds had a hit in the game.

Daniel Ponce de Leon started and allowed six runs on four hits in 6.0 innings. He walked three and struck out five. Chris Ellis followed and struck out five in 2.0 innings, but he allowed two runs. Chasen Shreve fired a scoreless ninth for the Redbirds (23-34).

Drew Jackson and Rocky Gale homered for the Dodgers (21-34).

The Redbirds struck out 16 times in the game.

Memphis has lost 11-straight games.

MAY RECAP: The Redbirds finished May with a 10-21 record, going 4-12 at AutoZone Park and 6-9 on the road. This is the just the second time since 2017, that the Redbirds have posted a losing record in a month, the last being August 2018. It is also the second time during that span that the 'Birds have had losing records at home or away. The 35 home runs slugged by the Redbirds ranks T-2nd for home runs in May, falling just three home runs shy of matching the 1999 franchise record of 38 homers in May.

Rangel Ravelo led the team with a .384 average (38x99), .460 OBP and a 1.066 OPS. This all coming after batting just .173 in the month of April. Tyler O'Neill returned to the Redbirds with a bang, launching eight home runs in 24 games.

GOING TO THE SHOW: Following the contract of Andrew Knizner being purchased on Friday by the St. Louis Cardinals, the Redbirds have now had four members from their Opening Night roster get called up to St. Louis and make their first stint at the Major League level. Knizner joins Lane Thomas as the second Redbirds position player to earn a call up, joining pitchers Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley. The 2018 Redbirds had six players get promoted to St. Louis and they would all make their Major League debuts with the club.

SAN ANTONIO SERIES WRAP: The Memphis Redbirds were swept in six games by the San Antonio Missions in the final series of the season between the two clubs. The Missions end 2019 with a 3-13 record against the Redbirds in their inaugural Triple-A season, including winning the final 11 contests. They become the first team since the 2013 Albuquerque Isotopes to win 13 games against the Redbirds in a single season. Those are the only two teams to record that many wins in a season against the 'Birds.

The Redbirds scored just eight runs in the six games (50 inn.) and were held to just one home run and seven extra-base hits overall. The offense was held to a .174 average (30-for-172) and only had five players pick up multi-hit performances.

Adolis Garcia and Drew Robinson each doubled and tripled in the contest on May 26, with Robinson extending his hitting streak to a season-high six games. In the first game of Monday's doubleheader, Robinson drew a season-high three walks, bringing his season total to 31. That figure ranks T-7th in the Pacific Coast League. Tommy Edman launched his second lead-off home run of the year in Monday's contest and picked up his eighth three-hit game of the season on Tuesday. He leads the Redbirds with 13 multi-hit games.

The 'Birds starting staff went 0-4, 4.50 (15 ER/30.0 IP) fanning 29 batters while issuing 10 walks. The starters also gave up just three home runs in the series. Anthony Shew fanned a season-high nine batters, which also matched a Redbirds season-high, in his start, while Jake Woodford tossed the lone quality start, tossing 7.0 innings of three-run ball, allowing five hits and fanning seven. The Memphis bullpen went 0-1, 4.50 (10 ER/20.0 IP) with 17 strikeouts.

DON'T RUN ON THE REDBIRDS: During Monday's doubleheader, catchers Joe Hudson and Andrew Knizner each threw out a would-be base stealer in their respective games behind the plate. The Redbirds lead the Pacific Coast League in cutting down baserunners, throwing out 24 runners in 56 attempts. While throwing out the most baserunners, they also lead the PCL with a 42.9 caught-stealing success rate.

Andrew Knizner leads all PCL catchers by throwing out 17 baserunners in 32 attempts. His current caught-stealing rate of 53.1 percent is nearly 30 percentage points higher than his 2018 caught-stealing rate of 26.7 percent (20 CS/75 SB ATT) across all levels.

MEISINGER IN MAY: After tossing a career-high 4.0 innings and allowing just one run in the nightcap of Monday's doubleheader, Ryan Meisinger brought his season ERA down to 3.34 after ending April with a 5.40 ERA. He has gone 0-1, 1.00 (2 ER/18.0 IP) in May over 11 games and two starts and has allowed earned runs in just two of those outings. His ERA is now down to a season-low 3.12 following his outing last night vs. Oklahoma City. He has fanned 25 batters and issued just four walks as well. Despite not making a start in his Minor League career entering 2019, Meisinger has gone 0-1, 0.90 (1 ER/10.0 IP) in three starts.

PAIR OF ACES: Austin Gomber and Jake Woodford turned in back-to-back seven-inning quality starts to close out the series against the Sounds on May 13 and May 14 and find themselves among Pacific Coast League leaders in multiple categories as a result. Woodford ranks 5th (3.11) and Gomber has posted a 2.98 ERA that would rank 4th in the PCL if he qualified, as the pair have combined to go 7-2, 3.06 (37 ER/109.0 IP) in 19 starts. Gomber and Woodford rank 10th (52) and 6th (57) respectively in strikeouts. Woodford also ranks T-2nd in opponent average (.198) and 5th (63.2) in innings pitched, while Gomber is one of two pitchers in the PCL to have thrown a complete-game shutout.

RAVELO STAYS HOT: After hitting a career-low .173 (13x75) in the month of April at the Triple-A level, Rangel Ravelo stayed hot all of May, going 38-for-99 (.384) in 28 games. Ravelo had five three-hit games last month, compared to just one in 21 games in April. He had his 19-game hitting streak snapped May 25. He had homered four times during that span. He came just one game shy of matching the franchise record is 20 games, set by Adam Kennedy from June 28 - Aug. 12, 1999. The 27-year-old has raised his batting average to .291 on the season and is getting on base at a .371 clip.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: In their series opener against Nashville on May 2, the Memphis Redbirds set numerous season-highs, and matched a couple of franchise records in their 17-2 rout of the Sounds. The 24 hits matched a franchise record and was also the most hits in a Pacific Coast League game this season. Their 10 hits in the second inning matched a franchise record for most in a single frame. The 'Birds set season-highs in, runs, hits and total bases and matched a season-high with eight extra-base hits.

WALK IT OFF: The Redbirds walk-off defeat to the Missions on April 9 was the first time since Aug. 5, 2017 that the Redbirds had lost in such fashion. The following night, it marked the first time since June 23-24, 2014 that the Redbirds had lost consecutive games in the last at-bat of the game. On May 16 in the series opener against San Antonio, Memphis was walked off by the Missions for a third time this season. The Redbirds also suffered a walk-off defeat on April 28 at Omaha The four last-at-bat defeats this season have already surpassed last year's total of two and have matched 2017's total. The Redbirds have not been walked-off more than four times in a season since 2016 when it occurred six times.

EXTRA! EXTRA!: On May 25 vs. San Antonio, the Redbirds did not have an extra-base hit in a game for the first time all season. Their run of 48 consecutive games with at least one such hit fell just three games short of matching the 2017 Redbirds' streak of 51 games. So far this season, the Redbirds have collected 91 doubles, 14 triples and 64 home runs. Adolis Garcia holds the team lead with 23 extra-base hits with eight doubles, three triples and a team-high 12 home runs.

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 2, 2019


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