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PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (29-40) vs Las Vegas Aviators (37-32)

June 16, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (29-40) vs Las Vegas Aviators (37-32)

Sunday, June 16 - 2:05 p.m. (CT) - AutoZone Park (10,000) - Memphis, Tennessee

Game #70 - Home Game #33 (12-21)

RHP Jake Woodford (4-3, 3.13) vs RHP Brian Schlitter/RHP Daniel Mengden (4-2, 2.80)

BY THE NUMBERS

1.872 Rangel Ravelo's OPS during his current four-game hitting streak. Ravelo has reached safely in 13 of his 19 plate appearances and five of his 10 hits have gone for extra bases. His .414 OBP ranks 12th in the Pacific Coast League.

0 Number of errors made by John Nogowski in 51 games this season. His 345 total chances are fifth-most in the Pacific Coast League and is one of five qualified players in the PCL to have not committed an error.

7 Number of Redbirds that have been added to the Injured List in the last 11 days. Prior to that, the Redbirds had just 10 players that had hit the IL all season, including five players that began the year on the IL.

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds continue their seven-game homestand tonight in the second game against the Las Vegas Aviators of this four-game set. The Redbirds dropped the opener last night by a score of 8-4, as they were hit with a 14-hit barrage by the Aviators. John Nogowski drove in three runs on the night and had the Redbirds only multi-hit performance. Rangel Ravelo extended his hitting streak to four games by going 1-for-3 and drawing a walk. Irving Lopez made his first Triple-A start and second base, but has yet to record his first hit at this level. Today's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Jake Woodford is scheduled to take the mound in today's game and make his 14th start of the season and his first start at home since May 29. Woodford last took the mound on Monday at Reno in the Redbirds' road trip final, suffering the loss (4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) in the Redbirds' 6-4 defeat to the Aces. That snapped his run of two consecutive quality starts and it was his shortest outing of the season. It was just the second time in his 13 starts that Woodford has failed to reach the 5.0 innings mark. He matched a season low with just three strikeouts and issued at least four walks for the fifth time this season. Despite that, Woodford has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts. The loss was his third in his last four decisions, but Woodford has still won 14 of his last 21 decisions overall at the Triple-A level. He has made one start against Las Vegas in his career, at Cashman Field on July 27, 2018. Woodford earned the win (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 2 SO, 1 HBP) in the 'Birds 8-3 victory over the 51's. He is currently holding opposing batters to a .205 (53x259) average, which ranks 2nd in the Pacific Coast League among qualifiers. Woodford is even stingier against right-handed batters, holding them to just a .184 (30x163) average. He also ranks 3rd in the PCL with a 3.13 ERA and has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his 13 outings. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native is currently ranked as the No. 24 prospect in the Cardinals organization by MLB.com.

The Las Vegas Aviators are scheduled to use right-hander Brian Schlitter as an opener for today's game. Schlitter has gone 4-1, 3.98 (14 ER/31.2 IP) in 25 games with the Aviators this season. Today marks the first time in his professional career that he has started a contest after 594 games. The 33-year-old last worked in last night's game, tossing a scoreless ninth to end the game.

Following Schlitter, the Aviators are slated to go to right-hander Daniel Mengden in today's contest. The 26-year-old is scheduled to make his ninth appearance at the Triple-A level and his 14th appearance overall across all levels this season. Mengden has gone 4-2, 2.80 (14 ER/45.0 IP) in nine games, six starts with Aviators. In his last time out on Monday vs. San Antonio, he earned the win (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 1 HBP) in the Aviators' 17-7 victory over the Missions. It was his first start with Las Vegas since May 7 and it was his third straight quality start with the Aviators. He has five such performances overall across all levels this season. Overall in 2019, Mengden has gone 5-3, 3.57 (27 ER/68.0 IP) in 13 games, 10 starts this season, including a 1-1, 5.09 (13 ER/23.0 IP) record in five games, three starts with the Oakland Athletics. Mengden had three straight outings of one earned run or fewer from May 18-29, but bookended his lone Major League stint this season with outings of allowing at least four earned runs. In 2019, Dunshee has yielded an opponent's average of .219 (57x260), but has allowed a .314 (11x35) so far this month in two games, one start. The Houston native is in his sixth professional season his fourth full season within the Oakland organization. He spent the first two years of his career within the Houston organization.

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 53-48, leading at AutoZone Park by a 31-22 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 56-71.

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: John Nogowski was 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Edmundo Sosa and Rangel Ravelo each doubled and walked, but the Las Vegas Aviators (Athletics) took game one of the series with the Memphis Redbirds (29-40) Saturday night at AutoZone Park, 8-4.

With a crowd of 8,555 Saturday night, nearly 20,000 fans have packed AutoZone Park in the last two games after a sellout crowd last night.

Ravelo walked and doubled in his first two at-bats, making him 10 for his last 14 over three-and-a-half games with eight runs scored and three doubles.

Las Vegas led 3-0 before the Redbirds scored twice in the fourth, with Nogowski singling home Sosa, who walked, and Ravelo after his double. But the Aviators scored three more in the sixth to make it 6-2 and another in the seventh to distance themselves from the Redbirds.

Nogowski had another RBI single in the eighth inning that brought the Redbirds within 7-4, but Las Vegas promptly added another run in the ninth that advanced the game to its eventual final score of 8-4.

Harold Arauz started and gave up three runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings. Chris Ellis, Dominic Leone, and Jesus Cruz followed out of the Memphis bullpen.

The Aviators (37-32) had three doubles, two triples, and two home runs as part of their 14-hit attack.

ROSTER MOVES: Prior to Friday night's game the following roster moves were made:

Yariel Gonzalez was transferred from Springfield as his slated to make his Triple-A debut. Gonzalez has spent the bulk of this season at Advanced-A Palm Beach where he has slashed .260/.312/.321/.633 in 57 games. He had just made his Double-A debut on June 9 while with Springfield.

Tyler O'Neill was placed on the 7-Day Injured List, retroactive to June 14 and Evan Mendoza was also placed on the 7-Day IL. O'Neill ranks T-2nd on the Redbirds with nine home runs while Mendoza was batting .364 (4x11) during his second Triple-A stint of the season.

Dominic Leone was returned to the Redbirds following his day-long stint with St. Louis as the 26th man.

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.

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 has continued his torrid stretch in June, jumping out to an early .489 (22x45) average though 12 games. On June 7 at Reno, he had his first four-hit game since June 24, 2018 vs. New Orleans and had his second four-hit game of the season Thursday vs. Salt Lake. In May, he had his 19-game hitting streak snapped May 25. Ravelo 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. Despite having his hitting streak ended, Ravelo has still hit safely in 33 of his last 40 games with an official at-bat. The 27-year-old has raised his batting average to .333 on the season and is getting on base at a .414 clip. His .333 average ranks T-8th in the Pacific Coast League entering today.

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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