Sports stats



PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (53-34) vs Omaha Storm Chasers (40-45)

July 6, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (53-34) vs Omaha Storm Chasers (40-45)

Friday, July 6 - 7:05 p.m. (CT) - AutoZone Park (10,000) - Memphis, Tennessee

Game #88 - Home Game #43 (24-18)

RHP Daniel Poncedeleon (7-3, 2.57 ERA) vs. LHP Eric Stout (2-2, 4.79 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Omaha Storm Chasers will play game three of a five-game set tonight at 7:05 p.m. This will be the third of four series the two teams will play against each other this season. Memphis swept the first series 3-0, while the two split the second series 2-2. The 'Birds are coming off a 5-0 sweep of the Iowa Cubs. It was the first time the 'Birds had swept a team in five games since accomplishing the feat July 25-27, 2014, also at Iowa. Omaha is coming off a 3-2 series win over the Nashville Sounds. This series will lead into the All-Star Break, and the two will play their final series of the season immediately after the All-Star Break. Earlier today, Patrick Wisdom was named one of the participants of the Triple-A Home Run Derby. Today's game will be broadcast on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon will take the mound tonight for Memphis. It will be his 16th start of the season for the 'Birds. Poncedeleon, recently named a PCL All-Star, is having one of the best seasons of his career. The righty is 7-3 on the season with a 2.57 ERA despite receiving the lowest total run support for any Memphis pitcher. Coming into tonight's game, the righty is third in the league in ERA, fourth in strikeouts (91), while also posting the lowest opponents' batting average at .218, and posting the best strikeouts per nine innings pitched ratio at 10.78. In his lone start against the Storm Chasers this season on April 20, he took the loss despite throwing a phenomenal game. The righty tossed six innings, allowing just one earned run, but the 'Birds were shutout.

The Storm Chasers will send left-hander Eric Stout to the mound for his second spot-start of the season. Stout has made 25 appearances this season, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.79 ERA, and saving three games. His last appearance was a spot-start. He pitched 3.2 scoreless innings.

HISTORY WITH OMAHA: Memphis and Omaha 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 155-139. Memphis owns the all-time records both at home and on the road with 81-67 and 74-72 records, respectively. In nine games against the Storm Chasers this season, Memphis owns a 5-4 record. They swept the first series 3-0 before splitting the second series 2-2. Omaha has taken the first two games of this series. So far this season, the 'Birds are out-hitting and out-pitching the Storm Chasers. Memphis has a .232 average compared to their .219 mark, and a 2.15 ERA compared to their 2.65 mark.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Tues. night, hit two-run home run in the second inning, his 4th with Memphis; hit three over road trip

BARON: Currently has a four-game hitting streak, his longest of year and longest since 5-game streak July 18-25, 2017

DEJONG: Tues. night, hit game-winning two-run homer in the seventh; now hitting .308 (4-for-13) on rehab assignment

GARCIA: Is hitting .464 (13-for-28) when batting in the cleanup spot this season; 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI in that spot

KELLY: Hit .286 (8-for-28) in seven games over road trip; scored 4 runs, hit two 2B, two HR, and driven in seven

MEJIA: Is seven for his last 16 at the plate, while scoring four times and driving in one, while stealing two bases

MERCADO: Tues. night, went 3-for-4, recording 6th three-hit game this season, most on team; 21 steals are second in PCL

RAVELO: Is hitting .390 (39-for-100) over his last 29 games; has hit four 2B, two 3B and eight homers in that time

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

SOSA: Wed. night, drove in game-tying run in the ninth to send it to extra innings; is hitting .273 (8-for-30) with Memphis

TOVAR: Stole three bases on 6/23, doubling his total; first time since July 3, 2009 he stole 3 bases in a game

VOIT: Hit for the cycle on June 30; hit .500 (19-for-38) over nine-game road trip, driving in 13 runners

WISDOM: Monday, hit a two-run double in the first to give Memphis an early lead; is hitting .316 (65-for-206) since May 1

BY THE NUMBERS

43 quality starts in 87 games for Memphis pitchers this season; the most in the PCL. Dakota Hudson leads the charge with 10, while 10 of the 12 pitchers who have made a start this year have gotten one

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds dropped last night's contest to the Omaha Storm Chasers 3-0 in a game that saw a 41 minute rain delay.

Memphis starter Jake Woodford had his longest outing in a Redbirds uniform this season. In his third start with the team, he tossed 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits en route to the loss.

Woodford's only costly mistake in the game came in the second inning when he allowed a two-run home run. After that, he was lights-out until the seventh inning.

The bullpen pitched the final 2.2 innings, and were phenomenal once again. They stranded a runner and combined to allow just one hit and one walk, while striking out four batters. Offensively, Wilfredo Tovar had the best night at the plate, going 2-for-4.

BULLPEN SOLID, AGAIN: Despite taking the loss last night, the Memphis bullpen continued its recent dominance. Last night, the bullpen pitched out of a jam, and then threw the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out four batters. On Wednesday with the new extra-innings rules, a runner starts each half an inning at second base, and if the runner scores, it is an unearned run. The bullpen allowed that run to score in the 12th inning Wednesday night, but not before throwing 3.2 scoreless innings. Over the last seven games, the Memphis bullpen has combined to throw 20.0 innings without allowing an earned run. The last earned run they allowed was on June 30 in the fifth inning of their game at Iowa. Since allowing that last earned run, they have surrendered just 12 hits, and four walks, while striking out 25 batters. Dating back to June 28 against Colorado Springs, nine Redbirds relievers have made at least one appearance out of the bullpen, combining to pitch 23.2 innings, allowing just 16 hits, four walks, four runs, one earned, all while striking out 29 batters. They hold a record of 1-1 with two saves in that span.

TOUGH LUCK FOR JAKE: In last night's 3-0 loss, starter Jake Woodford made his third start for Memphis, taking the hard-earned loss. The righty was solid over 6.1 innings in his longest outing of the season with Memphis. In the second inning last night, Woodford walked the leadoff man before giving up a two-run home run to the next batter. After allowing those two runs, Woodford proceeded to retire 15 of the next 17 batters he faced before allowing two-straight hits to kick off the seventh inning. He retired eight-consecutive men at one point. In his three starts with the Redbirds, he is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 15.1 innings. In his last start against Iowa, he was rolling through four one-run innings before weather forced the game to be suspended, effectively ending his outing.

QUALITY STARTS GALORE: After Jake Woodford's performance last night, 'Birds starters have thrown 43 quality starts in 87 games this season. They threw 55 total in 2017. Earlier this season, the Redbirds staff had a streak of 11-straight quality starts. Of the 12 pitchers that have made a start for Memphis this season, 10 of them have thrown at least one quality start. Sam Tuivailala and Sean Gilmartin combined for seven starts, and did not throw a quality start. Dakota Hudson has 10 in 16 starts, John Gant and Kevin Herget have seven, Austin Gomber has five, Jack Flaherty and Daniel Poncedeleon have four, Ryan Helsley has three, and Alex Reyes, Chris Ellis, and Jake Woodford all have one apiece. The 43 quality starts are the most in the PCL.

SOSA STEADY AS A DRUM: In last night's loss, Edmundo continued his steady performance at the plate, going 1-for-4. In Wednesday night's extra-innings loss, Sosa drove in the only Memphis run with an RBI single in the ninth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Adolis Garcia reached on an error to start the inning before Alex Mejia singled him to third one out later. Sosa then singled up the middle to tie the game. Since being transferred to Memphis from Springfield on June 23, Sosa has appeared in 11 games for the Redbirds, starting nine of them at various spots around the infield. Wednesday night was not his first clutch hit as a Redbird either. In Monday's 7-3 win over the Iowa Cubs, Sosa drove in three runners in the ninth inning with a pinch-hit double. In 11 games with Memphis so far, the infielder is hitting .270 (10-for-37) with six runs scored, four doubles, five RBI, and two walks. Since joining the 'Birds, he has hit safely in nine of his games, and is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, his longest of the season between both Memphis and Springfield.

TOVAR QUIETLY SURGING: In last night's loss, infielder and sometimes outfielder, Wilfredo Tovar made his second start of the season in the outfield, while also going 2-for-4 at the plate. Tovar now has a season-long seven-game hitting streak. He has recorded multiple hits in three of those seven games. Tovar has been playing well since the middle of June after struggling through all of May and the first half of June. From May 1 to June 16, he appeared in 37 games, hitting just .223 (27-for-121). In 10 games since then, he is hitting .371 (13-for-35), while recording hits in nine of the games, and multiple hits in four of them.

WRONG SIDE OF SHUTOUTS: In last night's 3-0 loss, the Redbirds were shutout for the sixth time this season. In last year's championship season, the 'Birds were shutout just twice. The Redbirds are now 7-6 in shutout games this season. The seven shutout wins are tied for the second-most such wins in the PCL this season with New Orleans, Nashville, and Omaha, trailing only Fresno who has eight. The six losses are tied for the third-most with Nashville, trailing only Iowa's eight such losses, and Albuquerque's seven. Despite having six shutout losses this season, last night was the first time the Redbirds had been shutout in exactly a month. On June 5, they lost to Tacoma 5-0. Of the six losses, three have come to Oklahoma City, two to Omaha, and the other to Tacoma.

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, and the first Redbirds player to record four hits, four RBI, and four RBI in a game since Xavier Scruggs on Aug. 14, 2014 (4 H, 6 RBI, 4 R).

RACKING UP THE HONORS: Earlier this week, pitcher Dakota Hudson and infielder/outfielder Rangel Ravelo were named the Cardinals Minor League Pitcher and Player of the month for June. In June, Hudson went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA in five starts. He is now 12-2 on the year, with a 2.33 ERA. His 12 wins lead all of Minor League Baseball, while his ERA is second in the PCL. Ravelo was virtually unstoppable at the plate in June. In 20 games, he hit .449 (31-for-69) with three doubles, a triple, six home runs, 23 RBI, and 11 walks, while striking out just four times. He hit safely in 14 of his 20 games in the month, and recorded multiple hits in 11 of those contests. Earlier this season, pitcher Austin Gomber, now with St. Louis, won Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April after striking out 16 batters on April 23. Despite the Redbirds not taking home a Cardinals Minor League award in May, they have had at least one player be named a Player or Pitcher of the Month in seven of the last eight months. Earlier this season, Gomber also won PCL Pitcher of the Week honors twice. Those honors came for the weeks of April 23-29 and May 21-27.

Last week, three Memphis players were also named to the PCL All-Star roster. Hudson, fellow starter Daniel Poncedeleon, and slugger Patrick Wisdom were all named to the team. Hudson was named the starter for the Pacific Coast League. Earlier today, Hudson and Memphis outfielder Randy Arozarena were named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Hudson will be a participant for the U.S. Team, while Arozarena will play for the World Team. It is the first time the Redbirds have had multiple participants in the game since 2016 when Carson Kelly and Alex Reyes participated. Memphis has now had at least one player selected to the game in three-consecutive years for the first time in franchise history. Pitcher Jack Flaherty was the team's representative last 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



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 6, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central