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PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (51-32) at Iowa Cubs (29-52)

July 2, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (51-32) at Iowa Cubs (29-52)

Monday, July 2 - 7:08 p.m. (CT) - Principal Park (11,000) - Des Moines, Iowa

Game #84 - Road Game #44 (27-16)

RHP Chris Ellis (0-0, 3.98 ERA) vs. RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2-9, 7.49 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Iowa Cubs will play game four of a five-game set tonight at 7:08 p.m. for the second stop on their nine-game road trip. This will be the third of four series the two teams will play against each other this season. Memphis won the first two series, 3-1 and 3-0, respectively. The 'Birds are coming off a 2-2 series split with Colorado Springs, while Iowa is coming off a 3-1 series win over New Orleans. With a win today, the Redbirds would tie the franchise record with 50 wins by the beginning of July. Memphis has taken the first three games in this series, 6-2, 13-2, and 6-1, respectively. Earlier today, Tyler O'Neill was recalled by the Cardinals for his third stint of the season. Meanwhile, reliever and sometimes starter Sean Gilmartin was released by the organization, and recent acquisition Tyler Webb was assigned to Memphis. Today's game will be broadcast on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Chris Ellis will make his fifth start of the season for the Redbirds tonight. In his first four starts of the season, Ellis has combined to throw 20.1 innings without earning a decision. The righty has allowed 19 hits, 12 runs, nine earned runs, and five walks, while striking out 13 batters. In his last outing, Ellis allowed four earned runs in 5.1 innings against Colorado Springs. Ellis had his best start of the season two appearances ago on June 22. The righty tossed six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, only one of which was earned.

The I-Cubs will send right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng to the mound to face the Redbirds and Ellis tonight. Tseng has struggled this season after being dominant for the I-Cubs in 2017. Coming into tonight's game, the righty is 2-9 in 15 starts with a 7.49 ERA. In two starts against Memphis this season, Tseng has pitched 10.0 innings, allowing 13 hits and 10 earned runs, and allowing four home runs.

HISTORY WITH IOWA: Memphis and Iowa have played every year dating back to 1998 when Memphis joined the PCL. In the all-time series, the Redbirds own the winning record at 162-134. On the road, the Redbirds trail with a 67-83 record at Principal Park. In 10 games against the I-Cubs this season, the 'Birds own the series with nine wins to one. They took the first series of the season in Memphis 3-1, and then swept Iowa the next week in Des Moines 3-0. So far this season, Memphis is outplaying Iowa at the plate and in the field. The 'Birds are hitting .306 compared to their .243, and are posting a 2.77 ERA compared to their 6.03 mark.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Tues. night, hit pinch-hit two-run home run in the ninth to extend lead to 11-4; second homer of year

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

DEJONG: Will be making first appearance with Memphis this year; on rehab assignment from St. Louis

GARCIA: In Sunday's 11-5 win over New Orleans, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, driving in four runners

KELLY: Currently riding four-game hitting streak, and a three-game multi-hit streak; now has five homers this season

MEJIA: Is five for his last eight at the plate, while scoring three times and driving in one, while stealing a base

MERCADO: Is hitting a career-high .295 (86-for-292) this season; is tied for third in PCL with 19 stolen bases this season

RAVELO: Is hitting .425 (37-for-87) over his last 26 games; has hit three 2B, two 3B and eight homers in that time

SCHROCK: Yesterday, recorded three hits in a game for the first time since May 3 against Oklahoma City

SOSA: Will be making Triple-A debut with the Redbirds; hit .276 with seven homers in 67 games with Springfield

TOVAR: Stole three bases in Sunday's win, doubling his total; first time since July 3, 2009 he stole 3 bases in a game

VOIT: Hit for the cycle on June 30, becoming the second player in Memphis history to accomplish the feat

WISDOM: Recently hit HRs in back-to-back games for the first time this year; is hitting .316 (62-for-196) since May 1

BY THE NUMBERS

111 transactions for the Redbirds through the first 83 games this season, 1.3 per game. Memphis did not reach 111 transactions until August 11 last season

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds won each of the last two games by scores of 13-2 and 6-1, respectively, over the Iowa Cubs.

In Friday's game, the 'Birds were leading 3-1 after four innings when the game was suspended due to weather. The game was finished Saturday afternoon, where the 'Birds went on to win 13-2.

In the first game, Jake Woodford got the start, pitching four innings and allowing one earned run before play was suspended. The bullpen then finished the game, pitching the final five frames and allowing just one more run, with Luke Gregerson getting the win.

Offensively, Luke Voit provided the spark, hitting for the cycle. He went 5-for-6 at the plate with five RBI. Tyler O'Neill, Carson Kelly, and Oscar Mercado also went deep in the game.

In the second game yesterday, which was only two innings, the 'Birds also jumped out to an early lead and went on to win 6-1.

In the second game yesterday, Voit continued his hot-hitting with a pinch-hit, RBI double. Daniel Poncedeleon earned his seventh win of the year in the game, allowing one unearned run over five innings, while striking out eight batters.

Alex Mejia and Max Schrock both went 3-for-4 on the day, while Oscar Mercado went 2-for-3. Randy Arozarena also hit his third homer of the year in the game.

LUKE GETS THE CYCLE: In Friday's game, which was completed on Saturday afternoon, Memphis infielder Luke Voit hit for the cycle in the route over the Iowa Cubs. Voit drove in the game's first run with a triple in the first inning. In the fifth inning, he doubled in another run, before singling in another run in the sixth inning. Voit completed the cycle with a ninth inning home run, his fourth of the season with Memphis. Voit finished the game going 5-for-6 at the plate with five RBI. Voit became the second player in Memphis history to hit for the cycle, joining Mark Little. Little accomplished the feat on June 23, 2000 at Colorado Springs. In the game, Voit also became the first Redbirds player to record five hits in a game since Cody Stanley on July 4, 2015 at Colorado Springs.

PONCE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE: Last night's starter Daniel Poncedeleon has had himself a strong start to the 2018 season. Despite getting the lowest run support among Memphis starters, Poncedeleon is now 7-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 15 starts and 16 appearances for Memphis this season. Last night, Poncedeleon threw 5.0 innings, allowing one unearned run to score on two hits and four walks, while striking out eight batters. In his 15 starts this season, he has pitched at least 5.0 innings in 12 of them, and has notched four quality starts. The righty has allowed more than three earned runs just once this season, and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 15 starts, including nine starts where he has allowed one or less earned runs. After last night's performance, Poncedeleon, who was recently named to the PCL All-Star team now owns the third-best ERA (2.57) in the PCL, narrowly behind teammate Dakota Hudson (2.10). He is also tied for the second-most strikeouts in the PCL at 91. Poncedeleon also sits in second in the league in opponent's batting average (.218), and first in strikeouts per nine innings pitched ratio (10.78).

OH HEY, BUDDY: In Friday night's win, outfielder and Cardinals' No. 4 prospect Tyler O'Neill launched his 19th home run of the season in the first inning. The two-run shot put the 'Birds up 3-0, and ultimately provided the winning runs, as Iowa scored two runs in the game to make the final score 13-2. It was the third time in four nights that O'Neill had homered after going six-straight games without hitting a home run. O'Neill has homered in at least three-straight games between Memphis and St. Louis this season four times this season. O'Neill now has 31 home runs in 86 career games with the Redbirds. The 31 home runs puts him just outside the top-10 all-time in the Memphis record books. The cutoff is 38 home runs. O'Neill also has 22 home runs between Memphis and St. Louis this season. O'Neill's 19 home runs with Memphis this season give him the second-most in the PCL this season. Earlier today, O'Neill was recalled to St. Louis for his third stint of the season.

CARSON ON FIRE: In Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights' wins, catcher Carson Kelly provided much of the offense for the Redbirds. Thursday, Kelly kicked off the Memphis scoring for the second-consecutive night. In the first inning Friday night, Kelly smacked a two-run single to give the 'Birds the early lead. He finished the night going 2-for-4 at the dish. Thursday night, trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Patrick Wisdom singled to lead off before Kelly launched his fourth homer of the year to tie the game at two. The Redbirds went on to score five more runs in the frame en route to their 7-5 win. In Saturday's win, Kelly went 2-for-5 with a home run and a double. Kelly now has hits in four-consecutive games after going six-straight without a hit over the last week and a half. He also has multiple his in each of his last three games. Over his four-game hitting streak, Kelly is now 7-for-16 with three runs, two doubles, two home runs, 7 RBI, and two walks in his last four games.

HAVE MERCY, MERCADO: After going deep in the eighth inning of Friday's game, Oscar Mercado snapped a homerless streak that dated back to May 23. The home run was his seventh of the year, and is now the second-best mark of his career. The speedy outfielder hit 13 last season with Springfield. Mercado also stole a base in the game on Friday, giving him 19, tied for third-most in the PCL season. Mercado is now hitting a career-high .295 through 77 games this season.

SOLID WEEKEND FOR RANDY: After hitting his third home run of the season yesterday, outfielder Randy Arozarena capped off a solid weekend. The speedy outfielder went 3-for-9 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI.

'BIRDS LIKE THE AMERICAN NORTH: After splitting their most recent series with Colorado Springs 2-2 this week, Memphis is now 30-12 against the American Northern Division this season. The Redbirds are 9-1 against the Iowa Cubs after yesterday's and Friday's wins, 9-4 against Colorado Springs, 7-5 against Oklahoma City, and 5-2 against Omaha. Memphis is just 13-14 against its own division, 3-4 against the Pacific Northern Division, and 5-2 against the Pacific Southern Division.

POWER SURGE: In the last six games, Memphis has hit 14 home runs, seven of them coming off the bats of Patrick Wisdom (2), Tyler O'Neill (4), and Luke Voit (3), Randy Arozarena (2), Carson Kelly (2), and the other off the bat of Oscar Mercado. The Redbirds hit 34 home runs in June, their most in any month this season. Memphis had hit just two home runs in June up until June 9. They finished the month hitting 32 homers in their final 20 games. The 'Birds hit 34 home runs in 27 games in June. They hit just 24 in 30 games in May, and 23 in 25 games in April.

TRIO OF ALL-STARS: Earlier this week, Memphis pitchers Dakota Hudson and Daniel Poncedeleon, and Memphis infielder Patrick Wisdom were named to the PCL All-Star team. Hudson is 11-2 with a 2.10 ERA, Poncedeleon is 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA, and Wisdom is hitting .299 with 12 home runs this season.

CHASING HISTORY: After winning yesterday, the Redbirds now have the most wins in the PCL this season. Their 51-32 record through 83 games this season is tied with the 2017 team for the best record through 83 games in franchise history, narrowly ahead of the 2000 Redbirds that went 50-33. The Redbirds also won their 1,400th game in franchise history last season on July 14 last season. Since that time, they have won 84 games, putting them just 16 wins from the 1,500th in franchise history. With 91 wins last season, and 51 so far this season, Memphis manager Stubby Clapp now has 142 wins in his career as Redbirds' manager, moving him in front of 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 .634 (142-82).

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)

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