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PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (35-52) at Iowa Cubs (50-37)

July 5, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (35-52) at Iowa Cubs (50-37)

Friday, July 5 - 7:08 p.m. (CT) - Principal Park (11,000) - Des Moines, Iowa

Game #88 - Road Game #43 (21-21)

LHP Austin Warner (0-0, 7.50) vs RHP Tyson Miller (0-0, -.--)

BY THE NUMBERS

6-15 The Redbirds record in one-run games this season. Their last four games have been decided by one run and the 'Birds have gone 1-3 in those contests. The Redbirds are also 0-7 in one-run games on the road.

19 Total number of Redbirds that have hit the Injured List this season. Last season, just nine players were placed on the IL. The Redbirds have placed five players on the IL in the last 11 days.

THE GAME

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds began their final road trip of the first-half of the season with a 5-4 walk-off defeat to the Iowa Cubs. It was the fifth time this season that the Redbirds had lost in such fashion this season. Justin Williams launched two, two-run homers last night and had a season-high four RBI. Randy Arozarena had his eight-game hitting streak snapped last night, but has still hit safely in his last eight starts. Tonight'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 second start for Memphis and his 16th 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. Warner left the TL ranking 2nd with 88 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. He also ranked 8th with a 3.83 ERA. In his 2019 Memphis debut on Sunday vs. New Orleans, he took no-decision (6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, 3 HR) in the Redbirds' 10-6 victory over the Baby Cakes. The five earned runs allowed matched a season-high. Despite allowing three home runs, Warner had one-two-three innings in three of six innings. That start began his second-career Triple-A stint, where he went 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). Tonight will be Warner's first start against the Iowa Cubs in his career. The Louisville, Ky., native is in his third professional season and has spent them all within the St. Louis organization.

The Cubs are scheduled to start right-hander Tyson Miller in tonight's contest. The 23-year-old is slated to called-up from Double-A Tennessee and make his Triple-A debut. Miller has gone 4-3, 2.56 (25 ER/88.0 IP) in 15 starts at the Double-A level and was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week for May 6-12. He wnet 1-0, 0.69 (1 ER/13.0 IP) during that span and held opponents to a .178 (8x45) average. He was also named to and participated in the 2019 SL All-Star Game in Biloxi, Miss., on June 18. In his last time out on Sunday vs. Birmingham, he took no-decision (6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR) in the Smokies' 6-2 defeat to the Barons. It was his third-straight quality start and his tenth overall of the season. It was also the tenth time that he had worked at least 6.0 innings in a start. The two home runs allowed was just the second time that he had allowed multiple home runs in a start and just the fourth time in 15 starts the he had allowed a home run. Miller has whiffed at least six batters in seven outings and the three walks allowed was a season high. He spent all of 2018 at Advanced-A Myrtle Beach, going 9-9, 3.54 (50 ER/127.0 IP) in 23 starts for the Pelicans. The Fairfield, Calif., native is in his fourth professional season, spending all of them with the Chicago-NL organization. He is currently ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the Cubs system according to MLB.com.

HISTORY WITH IOWA: Memphis has faced off against Iowa every year since 1998 and lead 168-139 in the all-time series. In those 21 seasons, the Redbirds have a winning record against the Cubs in 11 seasons and have a losing record in just one season (2015) since 2013. The Redbirds posted their best record against the Cubs last season, going 14-2 overall, 6-2 at AutoZone Park and a whopping 8-0 on the road at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa.

At this facility, the Redbirds have winning records in each of the last two seasons and in three of the last five overall. They also only have winning records in five of 21 seasons at Principal Park, with this two-year stretch being the most successful in team history. They trail in the series here 69-84.

Memphis has winning records in downtown Memphis in 17 seasons and has lost two home games each year to the Cubs since 2016. They have not had a losing record at home to the Cubs since 2012. Overall, they lead the series in the Bluff City with a 99-55 advantage.

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Justin Williams' pair of two-run home runs were not enough Thursday night, as the Iowa Cubs (Cubs) scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Memphis Redbirds 5-4 in the series opener in Des Moines, Iowa.

Memphis (35-52) trailed 3-0 after three innings before Williams blasted his two-run bombs in the fourth and sixth innings to give the club the lead. The Redbirds kept the 4-3 lead until the bottom of the ninth, when Iowa (50-37) scored twice thanks to a pair of errors and a play-not-made at the plate.

John Nogowski also had two hits in the game to go along with Williams' outing. He now has a hit in three-straight games and 18 of his last 19 with a plate appearance.

Mike Hauschild started for the Redbirds and pitched 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He gave way to Hunter Cervenka and Jesus Cruz, who fired 3.0 scoreless innings of relief.

Leading 4-3, Chris Beck came on in the bottom of the ninth and saw Jacob Hannemann reach on an error to start the inning. Hannemann stole second and went to third on a throwing error, and he then crossed the plate as the tying run when Edmundo Sosa fielded a ground ball and tried to throw him out at the plate but was late. Phillips Evans then singled home the winning run for the Cubs.

ROSTER MOVES: Prior to tonight's game with Iowa, the following roster moves were made;

Max Schrock and Justin Williams were placed on the 7-Day IL and Chris Chinea, Jose Martinez and Johan Mieses were all transferred from Springfield.

Shrock hits the IL for the third time this season after being reinstated from his second stint on June 27. Williams had two, two-hit games in two starts for the Redbirds after being transferred from Springfield on Sunday.

Chinea enters his second stint with Memphis this season and has slashed .262/.315/.450/.766 in 59 games at Springfield.

Martinez is slated to make his Triple-A debut after just making his Double-A debut on May 9. He has posted a .253/.341/.329/.670 slash at Springfield in 23 games.

Mieses will be making his third Triple-A stint of the season and is in line to make his first appearance for the Redbirds since April 25. He has three home runs and 11 RBI in eight-career Triple-A contests.

KNIZNER A PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE ALL-STAR: Andrew Knizner was added to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Game the league announced today.

Knizner has also been named an Appalachian League postseason All-Star (2016) and started the Midwest League All-Star game in 2017. He also represented the Cardinals in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.

This season, Knizner has thrown out 22 of 48 would-be base stealers (45.8 percent) and he leads the PCL with 22 baserunners caught stealing.

THE AMAZING RANDY: After slashing .374/.456/.607/1.063 in 28 games between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis in June, Randy Arozarena was named Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month. He also had five home runs, eight doubles, 20 RBI, and four stolen bases.

Making his Memphis debut on June 12 after arriving from Springfield, Arozarena proceeded to hit in 13-of-18 games in the month with the Redbirds, including a five-game hitting streak to end the month that included a pair of four-hit games. He had his eight-game hitting streak snapped last night, but has hit safely in his last eight starts. He also has five games with at least three hits during that span.

Yesterday, among prospects with at least 100 plate-appearances over the last 30 days he ranked 1st in hits (40) and average (.414), 2nd in OBP (.484) and total bases (70), T-3rd in doubles (10) and 5th in OPS (1.115). (Credit: MLB Pipeline)

This is Arozarena's second-career monthly honor from the Cardinals after being honored in June 2017 while playing for Advanced-A Palm Beach.

NEW ORLEANS SERIES WRAP: The Memphis Redbirds lost their series to the New Orleans Baby Cakes 3-2 in the first meeting between the two teams at AutoZone Park this season. The Redbirds have now dropped five of their last six series at home and have not posted a winning homestand since May 7-14. The Redbirds have not posted a losing record at home against the Baby Cakes since 2012.Both clubs scored 23 runs in the series, with the last three games being decided by one-run contests. The 'Birds went 1-2 in those games and have a 6-14 record on the season in one-run ball games. The Redbirds set a season-high for their largest comeback of the season on Sunday after falling behind 5-0 to win 10-6.

Randy Arozarena led the way once again for the Redbirds offensively in the series, going 12-for-20 (.600) with five runs, two doubles, a home run and four RBI. Arozarena had at least three hits in three games and posted a four-hit performance on Sunday. Through 21 games with Memphis following the series, Arozarena is slashing .405/.463/.595/1.058 and has failed to reach safely when he starts just twice (19 G). John Nogowski had his 15-game hitting streak ended during the completion of Monday's suspended contest, but he went 8-for-18 (.444) in the series overall to boost his season average to .316, which ranks 2nd among Redbird regulars. In last night's series finale, Max Schrock collected just his second three-hit game of the season by going 3-for-5 with a double. Since returning from the Injured List on June 27, Schrock has gone 8-for-22 (.364) with two doubles and a home run. His two-run shot on Tuesday during the completion of Monday's suspended game was his first home run since July 15, 2018. Overall in the series, the Redbirds batted .314 (51x162) against Baby Cakes pitching.

The 'Birds starting staff went 0-3, 6.95 (17 ER/22.0 IP) fanning 18 batters while issuing 11 walks. They allowed seven home runs and yielded an opponent's average of .218 (34x156). Genesis Cabrera turned in the lone quality start of the series by allowing three runs over 6.0 innings of work in Tuesday's seven-inning contest. It was his third quality start in his last five outings with Memphis and he has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of those starts. He has lowered his season ERA from 7.81 to a season-low 5.34 during that span. Austin Warner made his 2019 Memphis debut on Sunday by tossing 6.0 innings. Despite allowing back-to-back home runs to begin th game, Warner settled in and had three, one-two-three innings over his next five. Junior Fernandez tossed 3.1 innings in two games this series, allowing one run and two hits. In his first three Triple-A appearances, he has allowed four hits and one run in 6.2 innings. Seth Elledge earned his first career Triple-A win by tossing a scoreless seventh in Tuesday's game.

JUNE RECAP: The Redbirds finished June with a 11-16 record, going 3-12 at AutoZone Park and 8-4 on the road. This is the just the third time since 2017, that the Redbirds have posted a losing record in a month, adding to May 2019 and August 2018. The 39 home runs slugged by the Redbirds ranks 2nd for home runs in June, falling just one home run shy of joining the 2005 squad (44) of being the only two teams in Redbird history to hit at least 40 home runs in June. The 102 total home runs launched this season through June are the most by any Redbirds team. The team's .296 average in June was nearly 50 points higher than May's average of .247.

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 .323 batting average, which was highlighted by a 19-game hitting streak earlier this season that ended one game shy of matching the franchise record.

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