PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (34-21) at New Orleans Baby Cakes (25-29)

Published on June 1, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (34-21) at New Orleans Baby Cakes (25-29)

Friday, June 1 - 7:00 p.m. (CT) - Shrine on Airline (10,000) - New Orleans, Louisiana

Game #56 - Road Game #27 (16-10)

LHP Sean Gilmartin (3-1, 5.52 ERA) vs. RHP Trevor Richards (2-2, 2.16 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and New Orleans Baby Cakes will play game three of a five-game series tonight at 7:00 p.m. in New Orleans. This is the first of four series the two teams will play against each other this season. Memphis grabbed the close 3-2 win in the opener, while New Orleans took game two 10-3. The Redbirds are coming off a 4-1 series win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, while New Orleans is coming off a 4-1 series loss to the Iowa Cubs. Today's game will be broadcast on memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Left-hander Sean Gilmartin will get the ball for Memphis in his sixth spot-start this season. Austin Gomber, originally scheduled to pitch, was recalled to St. Louis yesterday, opening the door for Gilmartin. Gilmartin has performed much better as a starter this season than as a reliever. In 10 games as a reliever this season, Gilmartin is 1-1, has posted a 10.24 ERA in 9.2 innings, allowing 13 hits, 11 earned runs, and six walks, while striking out seven. In five starts this season, the lefty is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 21.1 innings, allowing 27 hits, eight earned runs, and two walks, while striking out 16 batters. In his last spot-start on May 19 in game two of a doubleheader with Colorado Springs, he pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out five batters.

The Baby Cakes will counter with righty Trevor Richards. Richards comes into tonight's game with a 2-2 record and a 2.16 ERA in five starts for New Orleans this season. Richards started the season on Miami's roster, making five starts with the Major League club, as well. With Miami, he was 0-2 with a 4.94 ERA and 24 strikeouts. This will be Richards' first-career appearance against Memphis.

HISTORY WITH NEW ORLEANS: Memphis and New Orleans have played every year dating back to 1998 when Memphis joined the PCL. New Orleans has been affiliated with four different teams in that span, while Memphis has remained affiliated with St. Louis over that span. The Baby Cakes have been affiliated with Houston, Washington, the Mets, and now Miami. The have also changed their mascot to the Baby Cakes after previously being known as the Zephyrs. Memphis went 11-6 against New Orleans last year, including going 6-3 in New Orleans.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Is just 2-for-19 in his last six games after snapping a 15-game on-base streak on May 25

BARON: Rejoins team after spending last two weeks with St. Louis; appeared in two games, and recorded one hit

GARCIA: Monday, recorded first multi-hit game since May 6; leads PCL with eight outfield assists

KNIZNER: Is hitting .343 (12-for-35) since joining Memphis last month; hitting .336 (47-for-140) on season

MEJIA: Is seven for his last 11; recorded a hit Sunday for the first time since snapping 8-game hitting streak (5/13-22)

MERCADO: Is hitting .080 (2-for-25) since ending eight-game hitting streak on May 25; hitless in five-straight

O'NEILL: Has appeared in 16 games with St. Louis; hitting .237 with six runs, nine hits, one double, three homers, and 7RBI

RAVELO: Hit go-ahead home runs in games on Saturday and Sunday, breaking scoreless ties both times

SCHROCK: Hit .269 (25-for-93) in the month of May after hitting .323 (30-for-93) in April; only five multi-hit games in May

TOVAR: Drove in all three runs in Wednesday's 3-2 win; was 2-for-4 with 2B and HR; first multi-hit game since May 9

URIAS: Is hitting .292 (7-for-24) in eight games since being transferred from Springfield; hitting .311 on season

WISDOM: Is hitting .424 (25-for-59) over current 16-game hit streak; now the longest streak of his career

BY THE NUMBERS

34-21 is the best record in the PCL this season. It is also the second-best mark through 55 games in Redbirds' history. The 2000 team was 35-20 through the first 55 games

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds dropped last night's game 10-3 to the New Orleans Baby Cakes.

Memphis got off to a quick start, plating a run in the first. Rangel Ravelo singled and took second on an error, and Patrick Wisdom drove him in with an RBI single.

The 'Birds grabbed two more in third courtesy of an error, two singles, and a sac fly. Alex Mejia and Andrew Knizner drove in the two runs in the third inning.

Last night's starter, Dakota Hudson, gave up more runs last night than he had in his four previous starts combined. Hudson threw 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, and three walks, while striking out four.

Reliever Hector Mendoza allowed six runs, including three home runs, in the seventh inning, breaking the game open and giving Memphis the loss.

Wisdom (2-for-4), Ravelo (2-for-4, Mejia (2-for-3), and Knizner (2-for-4) all had multi-hit games. Wisdom extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games.

WIZ EXTENDS CAREER-HIGH STREAK: After going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, and a run scored last night, Patrick Wisdom extended his hitting streak to 16 games. He now has a season and career-long 16-game hitting streak, and is hitting .418 (25-for-59) over that stretch. In the last 10 games alone, Wisdom is hitting .424 (18-for-43) with three doubles, a triple, and three home runs, while driving in 12 runs, walking six times, and striking out just 10 times. Since falling into a deep slump from April 16 to May 6, in which he hit just .220 (13-for-59) with four extra-base hits and eight RBI in 18 games, Wisdom has rebounded significantly. Over his last 22 games, he is hitting .378 (31-for-82) with nine extra-base hits, 14 RBI, and 16 runs scored. He has collected hits in 20 of those 22 games, including nine games with multiple hits. The 16-game hitting streak is now the longest streak of his career. He hit safely in 11-straight in 2015 with Springfield from April 30 to May 25, and hit safely in 14-straight with the Batavia Muckdogs in 2012 from July 19 to August 2. The 16-game streak is the longest for any member of the Redbirds this season, and the fifth-longest streak in the PCL this season. It is also the third-longest current streak in the league right now. His .424 average since May 14 is the second-best in the PCL, as well.

HUDSON DROPS FINALE OF SOLID MONTH: Despite dropping his final start of May last night, Hudson had one of the best months of his young career. Coming into last night's game, Hudson had made four starts in May, and was 3-1 in those games. He had twirled 27.0 innings, allowing just 18 hits and three total runs, while striking out 24 batters. He was also holding opposing hitters to a .194 (18-for-93) clip. Last night, Hudson struggled a bit, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, and three walks, while striking out four. Despite the loss, Hudson finished the month with a 3-2 record and a 1.65 ERA, the best mark in the PCL. May also saw Hudson start two games in which he threw 8.0 innings without allowing an earned run. He also struck out a career-high nine batters last week against Colorado Springs. His 2.69 season ERA is now third-best in the PCL, narrowly trailing teammate Daniel Poncedeleon, who leads the league with a 2.48 ERA.

PRESS ON, PRESTON: 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. Guilmet came in for the eighth inning last night to provide some stability after Hector Mendoza allowed six earned runs. He shut the door on the Baby Cakes to give the 'Birds one last chance. In his last two save situations, Guilmet has come into high-pressure situations, and has not disappointed. He closed out the ninth inning in Monday's 2-1 win, pitching around an error in ninth to get out of a jam. Tuesday, he came on with a man on in the eighth, and pitched out of the jam, earning the four-out save, his 11th of the year. Guilmet's 11 saves and 17 games finished are the most in the PCL this season. Guilmet is also posting the lowest opponent's batting average among relievers at .094 (8-for-85), owns the lowest walks per nine innings pitched ratio among relievers at 1.00, and owns the lowest baserunners per nine innings pitched ratio among relievers at 4.00. Guilmet is now 11-for-12 in save chances this year, and is posting a 1.00 ERA in 26.0 innings, and has struck out 33 batters. All other Memphis relievers are just 9-for-16 in save chances.

TWO MONTHS IN: With the calendar turning over to June today, the 2018 season is officially two months in. The 'Birds have played 55 games, and are 34-21 heading into June. In last season's record-setting campaign, the Redbirds entered June with a 32-21 record. The 'Birds own the best record in the PCL this season, the second-best ERA (3.48), the second-most strikeouts by pitchers (507), the seventh-best batting average (.269), and the third-most stolen bases (44). The 34-21 record through 35 games is the second-best mark in Redbirds' history. The 2000 Redbirds were 35-20 through the first 55 games.

STRONG STARTERS: Despite struggling last night, the Memphis starting pitching staff has been a force to be reckoned with this season. Memphis starters are 29-11 with a 2.77 ERA through the first 55 games this season. Through the first 55 games, the starters have pitched 312.2 innings, allowing just 108 total runs, only 96 of which have been earned. In addition, they have walked only 100 batters, and have struck out 332 hitters. Five different Memphis starters have also tied or set their career-high strikeout marks. Daniel Poncedeleon struck out 12 (career-high) on April 14, Austin Gomber struck out 16 (career-high and tied franchise record) on April 23, Jack Flaherty struck out 13 (career-high) on May 9, Alex Reyes struck out 13 (tied career-high) on May 24, and Dakota Hudson set his career-high with nine strikeouts Saturday night.

Memphis starters have also recorded seven separate 10-strikeout games. No other team in the PCL has more than two. Oklahoma City and El Paso have both had two 10-strikeout games from their starters, while Colorado Springs, Fresno, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Sacramento have all had one. There have been 16 total games with 10-strikeout performances from the starter in the PCL this season, and Memphis owns seven of them. Jack Flaherty and Daniel Poncedeleon have both recorded two such performances, while Alex Reyes, Austin Gomber, and Ryan Helsley have one apiece.

QUALITY STARTS GALORE: Not only have the Memphis starters posted a phenomenal ERA through this point in the season, they also lead the league in quality starts. 'Birds starters have thrown 29 quality starts in 55 games this season. That comes out to 52.7 percent of their starts. They threw 55 total in 2017. Last night, the Redbirds staff snapped their streak of 11-straight quality starts after going seven-straight games without a quality start. Over the last 19 games, the 'Birds are 3-5 when the starters do not record a quality start, and are 9-2 in games they do record a quality start in. Of the 10 pitchers that have made a start for Memphis this season, eight of them have thrown at least one quality start. Sam Tuivailala made a one-inning start on Major League rehab, and in his five spot-starts, Sean Gilmartin has not thrown a quality start. Dakota Hudson and Austin Gomber lead the team with five quality starts apiece. Jack Flaherty, John Gant, and Daniel Poncedeleon have all thrown four quality starts. Kevin Herget and Ryan Helsley have both thrown three quality starts. Alex Reyes also recorded a quality start in his rehab appearance last Thursday.

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 507 batters through the first 55 games (9.2/game), which is only behind Fresno (518) for the best mark in the PCL this season. 'Birds batters are also towards the bottom of the league in total strikeouts. Memphis batters have struck out just 367 times through the first 55 games (6.7/game), narrowly behind Omaha (366) for the lowest mark in the league. Memphis and Omaha are the only teams in the PCL that have struck out under 370 times this season. The Memphis pitching staff has also issued the fourth-fewest walks in the PCL this season (157).

MORE HONORS FOR GOMBER: Memphis starting pitcher Austin Gomber was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week on Monday for the second time this season. Last week, Gomber went 2-0 in 14.0 innings pitched, allowing just one run on 11 hits and four walks, while striking out 15 batters. Gomber also earned the award for the week of April 23-29 after his 16-strikeout performance April 23, and he was also named the Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. Gomber is 4-3 with a 3.60 ERA and 63 strikeouts on the season.

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

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 1, 2018


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