PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (40-27) at Albuquerque Isotopes (32-34)

Published on June 15, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (40-27) At Albuquerque Isotopes (32-34)

Friday, June 15 - 7:35 p.m. (CT) - Isotopes Park (11,124) - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Game #68 - Road Game #32 (19-12)

RHP John Gant (5-1, 1.67 ERA) vs. RHP Yency Almonte (1-4, 6.67 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Albuquerque Isotopes will play the finale of a three-game set tonight at 7:35 p.m. in Albuquerque. This will be the only time the two teams meet this season. Memphis won the first two games of the series by scores of 11-0 and 7-6. In 2017, the two split the season series 2-2. Memphis is coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Reno Aces, while Albuquerque is coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers. Tonight's game is part of a seven-game road trip for the Redbirds that will see them square off with Albuquerque and El Paso. Today's game will be broadcast on memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander John Gant will take the mound for the 'Birds tonight. Gant has split time between St. Louis and Memphis this season, and has been particularly dominant with the Redbirds. In seven starts with Memphis this season, he is 5-1 with a 1.67 ERA and 35 strikeouts. In his last start, Gant twirled 7.0 shutout innings, allowing eight hits and one walk, while striking out a season-high eight batters. Gant has pitched at least 5.0 innings in each of his starts with Memphis and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of them. Gant has faced Albuquerque once in his career, last season with Memphis. In that game, Gant pitched 3.1 innings, allowing an earned run on three hits and a walk, while striking out four Isotope batters.

The Isotopes will send righty Yency Almonte to the mound to battle Gant. Coming into tonight's contest, Almonte has made eight starts for the Isotopes, posting a 1-4 record with a 6.67 ERA. In his last start against Omaha, Almonte had his best performance of the season, allowing just two earned runs over 6.0 innings of work.

HISTORY WITH ALBUQUERQUE: Memphis and Albuquerque have played every season dating back to 2003. In that span, Albuquerque has been affiliated with three different teams. First, the Miami Marlins, then the Los Angeles Dodgers, and since 2015, the Colorado Rockies. The Isotopes lead the all-time series 109-84 over Memphis, and hold the edge both at home (59-37) and on the road (50-47). Last season, the two teams met for four games in Memphis and split the series 2-2.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Last night, tied game with two-run single in the ninth; first multi-hit game since May 24

BARON: In Monday's loss, drove in two runs in Memphis' six-run second; first multi-RBI game this season

GARCIA: Now has a five-game hitting streak for the first time this season; leads PCL with 10 outfield assists

KELLY: Hitting .360 (9-for-25) in five games since being optioned from St. Louis; five extra-base hits and five RBI

MEJIA: Drove in game winning runs in last two of last five starts; last Wednesday was first multi-RBI game since April 10

MERCADO: Reached base safely in all five plate appearances Saturday night for the first time in his career; 2-for-2, 3 BB

O'NEILL: Hit two home runs Wed. night for fourth time this season; now has 18 homers between Memphis and St. Louis

RAVELO: Is hitting .380 (19-for-50) with 11 runs scored, a double, triple, six home runs, and 15 RBI in last 13 games

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: Has two multi-hit games in the last week after going 15 games without a multi-hit performance

URIAS: Saturday night, hit a pinch-hit two-run home run in the eighth inning to put Memphis within striking distance

WISDOM: Drove in game-winning run in 10th inning last night; is hitting .324 (47-for-145) since May 1

BY THE NUMBERS

14-2 in extra-inning games since the start of the 2017 season. That is not only the best mark in the PCL, but also all of Triple-A baseball

ON THIS DATE

In 2013, ten suspensions are handed out after a fourth-inning, bench-clearing brawl between the Redbirds and the Albuquerque Isotopes. Albuquerque won the game 13-10

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds stormed back late in the game to grab a 7-6 win over Albuquerque in 10 innings last night.

Memphis trailed by two entering the ninth inning, and scored two runs to tie the game and send it to extras. Randy Arozarena came up in the clutch in the ninth, driving in both runs with a two-run single.

In the 10th, Patrick Wisdom drove in the winning run, which started the inning on second due to the new extra inning rules. The 'Birds pounded out 11 hits on the night, with five of them coming in the last two innings.

Rangel Ravelo, Wisdom, Carson Kelly, and Arozarena all recorded multi-hit games for the 'Birds, while seven of the eight position players recorded at least one hit.

Wisdom and Arozarena also collected multiple RBI, while Kelly, Garcia, and Wilfredo Tovar all drove in a run.

After starter Kevin Herget allowed five runs in six innings, the bullpen closed out the game, pitching four innings of one-run ball.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK: Last night, Memphis stormed back in the late innings to stun the Albuquerque Isotopes 7-6 in 10 innings. The 'Birds got off to a quick start, notching two runs in the first inning, but the lead did not hold long. Starter Kevin Herget allowed five runs between the second and fifth innings to give Albuquerque the lead. The 'Birds scraped runs across in the fourth and seventh innings, but still trailed by two entering the ninth inning after the Isotopes scored again in the seventh. To lead off the ninth, Carson Kelly singled and moved to third on a double from Adolis Garcia. Two batters later, Randy Arozarena drove in both runners with a single to tie the game. After Andrew Morales struck out the side in the ninth, the 'Birds began the 10th with a runner on second due to the new extra-inning rules. Rangel Ravelo singled to lead off the frame and move the runner to third before Patrick Wisdom drove in the runner with a single to give Memphis the win. Edward Mujica shut down the Isotopes for his third save of the year. It was the first time Memphis had won a game this season after trailing entering the ninth inning. They were 0-23 in such games before last night.

EXTRA, EXTRA: After the 'Birds scored two runs in the ninth inning to send the game to extras last night, they completed the comeback, winning 7-6. With the win, Memphis improved to 3-2 in extra-inning games this season. Last year, Memphis had the best record in the league in extras, going a perfect 11-0. Since Stubby Clapp took over the team last season, Memphis is 14-2 in extra-innings, by far the best winning percentage in the PCL. The 14-2 record in extra innings the last two seasons is also the best record and winning percentage in all of Triple-A baseball.

ONE IS JUST ENOUGH: Last night, the Redbirds won another one-run game, 7-6 over Albuquerque Isotopes in extra innings. They are now 14-5 in one-run games this season, including 10-2 at AutoZone Park. Their 14-5 (.737) record in one-run contests gives them the most wins and best overall record in such contests this season. Since manager Stubby Clapp took the helm last season, Memphis owns the best record and winning percentage in one-run games in the entire league. Last season, the 'Birds were 29-15 (.659) in one-run games. Between the two seasons, they are 43-20 in such games, a .683 winning percentage. The 'Birds have now won eight of their last 10 one-run contests.

ONE RUN OR A SHUTOUT: With last night's 7-6 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes, and 11-0 win on Wednesday, the Redbirds improved to 14-5 in one-run games, and 7-5 in shutout games this season. The seven shutout wins puts them narrowly ahead of New Orleans and Nashville for the most in the PCL. However, the 'Birds have also been shutout five times this season, putting them tied with Nashville and Omaha for the second-most shutout losses this year, behind Albuquerque's six such losses. In addition, Memphis is now 11-7 in its last 18 games. Of those 11 wins, six have come in one-run fashion, while five have come in shutout fashion. Of the seven losses in that span, three have come by either one run or a shutout. The 14-5 record in one-run games is the best mark in all of Triple-A. In last season's record-setting 91-win season, the Redbirds were just 5-2 in shutout games.

MAKING HISTORY AGAIN: With last night's win over Albuquerque, the Redbirds have matched the 2000 and 2017 Memphis teams as the only teams in franchise history to reach 40 wins by June 14. The earliest any Memphis team has reached 50 wins was June 30. That feat was accomplished by the 2000 team. The Redbirds also won their 1,400th game in franchise history last season on July 14 last season. Since that time, they have won 73 games, putting them just 27 wins from the 1,500th in franchise history. With 91 wins last season, and 40 so far this season, Memphis manager Stubby Clapp now has 131 wins in his career as Redbirds' manager, putting him seven behind former Memphis manager Mike Shildt for fifth on the all-time managerial win list. Clapp also owns the best winning percentage among Memphis managers at .630 (131-77).

KELLY PLAYING WELL: Catcher and Cardinals No. 2 prospect, Carson Kelly has been on fire at the plate since being optioned to Memphis from St. Louis a few weeks ago. Since being optioned, Kelly has started six games and has recorded at least one hit in all but the first one. In his current five-game hitting streak, Kelly has recorded multiple hits in four of them, and at least one RBI in four. Since being optioned, Kelly is hitting .391 (9-for-23) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, five RBI, and two walks, while striking out just once. With his recent hot streak, Kelly is now hitting .286 (30-for-105) in 29 games with the Redbirds this season.

RAVELO CAN'T BE STOPPED: After homering in three-straight games for the first time in his career, Rangel Ravelo went a measly 2-for-4 at the plate last night. Monday, Ravelo hit a grand slam in the second inning to give Memphis a 6-0 lead, and in Sunday's 6-0 win, Ravelo hit a two-run shot in the first inning, as well. His grand slam in Monday's game was the first of his 10-year career. With four RBI on the day, Ravelo also fell just one RBI short of his career-high of five, which he accomplished on August 30, 2011 with the Kannapolis Intimidators. He has now recorded exactly four RBI in a game six times in his career. It was also the second time this season that Ravelo had homered in consecutive games. Before this season, he had only homered in consecutive games twice in his career, July 31 and August 4, 2014 while with the Birmingham Barons, and July 17 and 18, 2013 while with the Winston-Salem Dash. Since going hitless in back-to-back games on May 21 and 22, Ravelo has been a force at the plate. In that 13-game span, Ravelo is hitting .380 (19-for-50) with 11 runs scored, a double, a triple, six home runs, and 15 RBI.

MERCADO AND WISDOM STILL HOT: In last night's comeback win, Oscar Mercado (1-for-3, 2 BB) and Patrick Wisdom (2-for-4, 2 RBI), continued their recent hot-stretches at the plate. Mercado recorded a double and two walks on the night. Since snapping an eight-game hitting streak last month and going five games without a hit, Mercado has been on fire as of late. He now has a seven-game hitting streak, and his fifth hitting streak of at least five games this season, the most for any Memphis player. Since the calendar flipped to June, Mercado has recorded a hit in 11 of 12 games, and is hitting .333 (15-for-45) with seven doubles, a triple, three RBI, and 10 walks, while striking out just seven times. Last night, Wisdom went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, including the game-winning RBI in the top of the 10th inning. Since May 1, Wisdom is hitting .3124(47-for-145) with 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 22 RBI, and 15 walks. In his 40 games since May 1, he has recorded multiple hits in 14 of them, and has gone hitless in just eight games with an official at-bat.

CLUTCH HIT FOR RANDY: In last night's win, Randy Arozarena came up in the clutch. The 'Birds were trailing 6-4 entering the ninth inning, and got to work quickly. The first two batters reached, before Arozarena came up to the plate and drove both in with his second hit of the night, an RBI single, to tie the game. It was his first hit since June 8, and his first multi-hit game since May 24.

POSITIVE SIGNS: In last night's win over the Isotopes, Adolis Garcia went 1-for-4 at the plate, recording a double, a run, an RBI, and a sac fly in the game. Garcia has now recorded a hit in five-straight games for the first time this season. The strong-fielding outfielder leads the PCL with 10 outfield assists, but has struggled at the plate in the last six weeks. However, since the calendar flipped to June, Garcia has recorded hits in nine of his 10 games. While it is just a .250 average over those 10 games, it is a good sign after he saw his average dip to a season-low .203 on May 31.

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 15, 2018


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