PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (33-49) vs New Orleans Baby Cakes (45-37)

June 30, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (33-49) vs New Orleans Baby Cakes (45-37)

Sunday, June 30 - 2:05 p.m. (CT) - AutoZone Park (10,000) - Memphis, Tennessee

Game #83 - Home Game #42 (12-29)

LHP Austin Warner (0-0, -.--) vs RHP Cody Poteet (0-0, -.--)

BY THE NUMBERS

14 John Nogowski's current hitting streak. He is the second Redbird this season have a hitting streak of at least 14 games, joining Rangel Ravelo. It is also the longest hitting streak of his career at any level.

59 Number of time Memphis batters have been hit by a pitch this season after Edmundo Sosa was hit twice in last night's game. That figure is the highest among all Triple-A teams.

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds continue their nine-game homestand tonight in the second of five games against the New Orleans Baby Cakes. The Redbirds fell in last night's opener and dropped their fifth-straight in a 6-3 contest. Andrew Knizner had three hits and a home run last, while also driving in two runs. His home run was the 'Birds 101st of the season, bringing them level with the 2005 Redbirds for the most home runs hit through June. John Nogowski extended his hitting streak to 14 games last night, going 2-4 with a pair of singles. Today's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Left-hander Austin Warner is scheduled to take the mound in today's game and make his first start for Memphis and his 15th overall start this season across all levels. Warner has gone 4-6, 3.83 (35 ER/82.1 IP) in 15 games, 14 starts with Double-A Springfield this season. In his 14 starts, eight of them have been quality starts and he has made four-straight such outings at that level. Warner was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 10-16, where he went 2-0, 2.21 in two starts, struck-out 16 batters during that span. His performances this season led him to be named a TL Mid-Season All-Star, where he pitched a scoreless inning, fanning one in his appearance on Tuesday. In his last regular season start on June 21 at Corpus Christi, he suffered the loss (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 2 HR, 2 HBP) in the Cardinals' 3-0 defeat to the Hooks. It was Warner's fourth-straight quality start and his ninth-straight outing of at least 6.0 innings pitched. It was also the sixth time in his last eight starts that he whiffed at least seven batters. Warner ranks 2nd in the TL with 88 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. He also ranks 8th with a 3.83 ERA. Today begins his second-career Triple-A stint, after going 1-2, 4.33 (17 ER/35.1 IP) in seven games, starts for the Redbirds in 2018. He made his Triple-A debut on July 28 at Las Vegas, taking no-decision (4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO). Warner has made one career start against New Orleans on Aug. 14, 2018, taking no-decision (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 3 HR) in the Redbirds' 4-3 defeat to the Baby Cakes at AutoZone Park. The Louisville, Ky., native is in his third professional season and has spent them all within the St. Louis organization.

The Baby Cakes are scheduled to start right-hander Cody Poteet in today's contest. The 24-year-old is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut and his 14th start overall this season across all levels. Poteet has gone 5-3, 2.25 (21 ER/84.0 IP) in his 13 starts for Double-A Jacksonville. In his last time out on Sunday vs. Pensacola, he earned his second-straight win (7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 11 SO) in the Jumbo Shrimp's 7-1 victory over the Blue Wahoos. It was his third-straight quality start and his fifth start of the season allowing no earned runs. He also set a season-low for hits allowed and a season-high for strikeouts. Poteet spent the bulk of 2018 at Double-A Jacksonville, going 3-12, 5.26 (70 ER/119.2 IP) in 22 games, 21 starts. The San Diego native is in his fifth professional season, spending them all with the Miami organization.

HISTORY WITH NEW ORLEANS: Memphis has faced off against New Orleans every year since 1998 and trail 167-174 in the all-time series. In the 10 years that the Redbirds have faced off against the Miami Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans, the 'Birds have winning records at AutoZone Park in just four seasons, 2009 (5-3), 2014 (7-1), 2016 (5-3) and 2017 (5-3), but have only dropped one season series at this facility in 2012 (3-5). Despite the Redbirds overall dominance in 2018, they went 7-9 against the Baby Cakes, including a 4-4 record at home. Their overall record against the Miami Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans is 82-83.

Memphis has faced off with Miami's top affiliate every year since 2003. From 2003-08, the Albuquerque Isotopes played host for the Marlins Triple-A club, where the Redbirds had a 44-54 record over six seasons. Over the 16 seasons that the Redbirds have faced off against Miami's Triple-A club, the 'Birds trail 126-136 overall.

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds fell behind 6-1 before a late rally brought them within 6-3, but the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins) polished off a win by that score in the series opener Saturday night at AutoZone Park.

Andrew Knizner was 3-for-4 with a home run and two singles for the Redbirds (33-49), and he drove in two runs. John Nogowski extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a 2-for-4 showing.

The Redbirds were stymied by New Orleans' Hector Noesi, who allowed just three runs on seven hits in 7.2 solid innings of work for the Baby Cakes (45-37). He struck out six and walked only one.

Mike Hauschild started for Memphis and tossed 4.0 innings. Five Redbirds relievers followed him, including Mike Mayers and Ryan Helsley on their second injury rehabilitation appearances.

After scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come within 6-3, the Redbirds left a pair of runners on base in that frame and another was stranded in the bottom of the ninth as the game wrapped up.

ROSTER MOVES: The following roster move was made prior to tonight's game:

Outfielder Justin Williams was transferred from Double-A Springfield. The No. 14 prospect in the Cardinals system, according to Baseball America, is slated to make his 2019 Memphis debut with his first game appearance. The 23-year-old has slashed .193/.246/.263/.509 in 17 games at Springfield, after missing most of the start of the season recovering from a broken hand.

The following roster moves were made prior to last night's game:

Austin Warner was transferred from Double-A Springfield. At Springfield, Warner went 4-6, 3.83 (35 ER/82.1 IP) and was named a 2019 Texas League Mid-Season All-Star. He also was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for June 10-16;, where he went 2-0, 2.21 in two starts, striking-out 16 batters during that span.

Tyler O'Neill and Lane Thomas were both recalled by St. Louis. O'Neill has been recalled by the Cardinals for the first time since being optioned to Memphis on May 4. He posted a .244/.279/.366/.645 slash-line in 22 games with St. Louis to open the season. Thomas begins his third big-league stint this season and has slashed .400/.455/.700/1.155 in his first nine career MLB contests.

NASHVILLE SERIES WRAP: The Memphis Redbirds were swept in four games by the Nashville Sounds in the final meeting between the two teams this season. It was the fourth time in the last five home series that the Redbirds have been swept. The 'Birds fall in the season series 7-9 and finish with a 3-5 record at AutoZone Park. They also dropped their final six games against the Sounds this season. The Redbirds have gone 7-9 against their in-state rivals the past two years and having losing records at home in three of the last four. The Redbirds were outscored 33-18 in the series and scored four runs or fewer in three games and went 0-2 in contests where they outhit the Sounds. In Tuesday's series opener, the Redbirds allowed 18 hits, matching a season high (3 times). The 17 runs allowed on Wednesday set a season-high and it was the first time that Memphis had allowed that many runs in a game since May 28, 2016 at Las Vegas.

Randy Arozarena led the way for the Redbirds offensively in the series, going 8-for-19 (.421) and a pair of RBI. After going 0-for-5 in the opener, Arozarena responded by going 8-for-14 over the final three games, picking up a three-hit performance on Wednesday and his first four-hit game of the season last night. Through 16 games with Memphis following the series, Arozarena was slashing .344/.411/.516/.927 and has failed to reach safely when he starts just twice (14 G). Adolis Garcia extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games after going 6-for-17 over four games. Garcia also swiped three bags in the series and has at least one stolen base in four of his last five games overall. After going 1-for-1 with three walks in last night's game, Irving Lopez pushed his hitting streak to three games, a career-high at the Triple-A level. He had multi-hit performances in each of the first two games of the series and on Friday became the fifth Redbird this season to draw at least three walks in a single game. Three of his five hits went for extra bases and he launched his first-career Triple-A home run on Tuesday. John Nogowski extended his current hitting streak to a season-high 13 games after collecting one hit in each game. It is the second-longest hitting streak by a Redbird this season, as he only trails Rangel Ravelo's 19-game streak. Tyler O'Neill blasted his 11th home run of the year on Thursday for the Redbirds' 100th home run of the season. They trail only the 2005 squad for most home runs hit through June (101). Edmundo Sosa has pushed his hitting streak to eight games and is just one game away from matching his season-high streak of nine. Overall in the series, the offense batted .301 (44x146) against Sounds pitching, averaging 11 hits per game. Eleven of those 44 hits went for extra-bases.

The 'Birds starting staff went 0-1, 6.92 (14 ER/18.2 IP) fanning 13 batters while issuing three walks. Two of the four starters allowed two earned runs or fewer in their outings while tossing at least 5.0 innings. They allowed four home runs and yielded an opponent's average of .296 (42x142). Reigning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week Jake Woodford continued to dominate on the mound and tossed his second-straight quality start in Friday's series finale. It was his third quality start in his last five outings and he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four starts during that span. Genesis Cabrera made his first start for the Redbirds since June 9 at Reno, picking up right where he left off by allowing just one earned run on four hits in five innings of work. He also issued no walks in an outing for the first time this season in a Redbirds uniform. In his last four starts for the Redbirds Cabrera has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each outing, bringing his ERA down to a season-low 5.44. The Memphis bullpen went 0-3, 8.95 (17 ER/17.1 IP) with 12 strikeouts and 11 walks. Junior Fernandez made his Triple-A debut on Tuesday and dazzled on the mound, twirling 3.1 scoreless frames while striking out five. After allowing five earned runs in 0.2 innings in his Triple-A debut on Tuesday, Seth Elledge tossed a scoreless eighth on Friday. Mike Mayers made his first appearance since April 15 on Wednesday to begin his rehab assignment, needing just six pitches to complete a one-two-three inning.

NOGOWSKI ON A ROLL: After going 2-4 last night, John Nogowski extended his hitting streak to a season-high 14 games. He has seven multi-hit games during that span, raising his batting average from .272 to .309. He is the second Redbird this season to have a hitting streak reach at least 14 games, joining Rangel Ravelo.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Memphis Redbirds pitcher Jake Woodford and infielder Rangel Ravelo have been named to the 2019 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team, with the 32nd annual Triple-A All-Star Game against the International League stars on Wednesday, July 10 in El Paso, Texas.

Woodford was the top vote-getter among all pitchers and earns the prestigious starting nod. He is the sixth Redbird, and second-straight, to start an All-Star Game on the mound.

Ravelo leads Redbirds regulars with a .325 batting average, which was highlighted by a 19-game hitting streak earlier this season that ended one game shy of matching the franchise record. He hit .449 (31-69) during the hitting streak, which spanned from May 2-24. He had eight multi-hit games during the stretch.

WOODFORD PCL PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Memphis Redbirds starting pitcher Jake Woodford has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for June 17-23, the league announced Monday.

Woodford earned the honor after throwing seven scoreless frames and allowing just two hits on Saturday's 5-0 Memphis win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Dodgers) in Oklahoma City. He held the Dodgers to just two at-bats with runners in scoring position and he faced the minimum in four of his seven frames. It was also his seventh quality start of the season and his third in his last five outings.

In 16 starts for the Redbirds this season, Woodford is 5-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 93.2 innings. He has held opponents to just a .215 average against. Among PCL league leaders, he ranks 2nd in innings pitched, 4th in ERA, 2nd in opponent's average and T-4th in strikeouts.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 30, 2019


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