PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (71-44) At Oklahoma City Dodgers (61-51)

Published on August 9, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (71-44) at Oklahoma City Dodgers (61-51)

Thursday, August 9 - 7:05 p.m. (CT) - Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (13,066) - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Game #116 - Road Game #57 (36-20)

LHP Austin Warner (1-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. RHP Daniel Corcino (2-3, 3.91 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Oklahoma City Dodgers will kick off a four game set tonight at 7:05 p.m. in Oklahoma City. This is the final series the two teams will play against each other this season, and it is the first time they will have faced each other since May. The Redbirds are coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Fresno Grizzlies, while Oklahoma City is coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Reno Aces. The Redbirds lead the season series 7-5, and will have to win two of the four games to seal the season series win. Earlier today, outfielder Victor Roache was transferred to Memphis from Springfield, while Landon Beck was transferred back to Springfield. Roache will be making his Triple-A debut. Today's game will be broadcast on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Left-hander Austin Warner will take the mound in tonight's series-opener. It will be his third Triple-A start, and his first against the Dodgers. Through two starts with Memphis, the lefty is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings of work. In his first start against Las Vegas, he threw four innings, allowing five runs, two earned, on seven hits and three walks en route to the no-decision. In his last start, he was phenomenal. He threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing eight hits and two walks, while striking out five batters. Since being signed out of Independent League ball in June last year, he has appeared at five levels of the organization. In 33 games, he is 10-10 with a 3.36 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 179.2 innings of work.

The Dodgers will send right-hander Daniel Corcino to the mound to battle Warner and the Redbirds. In 18 appearances, 13 starts, this season, Corcino is 2-3 with a 3.91 ERA in 71.1 innings of work. The righty has made three starts against Memphis this season, spanning 14.0 innings. In those three starts, he is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 10 strikeouts.

HISTORY WITH OKLAHOMA CITY: Memphis and Fresno have played every year dating back to 1998 when Memphis joined the PCL. Oklahoma City has been affiliated with the Rangers, Astros, and Dodgers in that span. So far this season, the two teams have played 12 games against each other, with Memphis holding a slight lead at 7-5. The two have been evenly matched all season. The 'Birds are slightly out-hitting Oklahoma City at .268 to .248, and slightly out-pitching them with an ERA 3.87 compared to their 3.89 mark. The Redbirds would have to win two of the four games in this series to secure their first season series win against Oklahoma City since 2011 when they went 11-5.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Has just three hits in six games since rejoining Memphis last week; hitting .396 with Springfield

BARON: Has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games since June; had a season-long eight-game hitting streak in that stretch

KELLY: Is hitting .327 (35-for-107) over last 29 games; has hits in 20 of those games and multiple in 12 of them

MEJIA: Had two RBI Fri. night; now has 20 RBI in last 44 games after having only eight RBI in first 42 games this year

RAVELO: Currently riding 13-game hitting streak, hitting .404 (19-for-47) in that stretch; hit walk-off single Sunday

ROACHE: Will be making Triple-A debut with Memphis; former first round pick is in first season with St. Louis organization

SCHROCK: Fri. night, had first multi-RBI game since July 15; hitting just .221 (21-for-95) in 28 games since July started

SOSA: Has just three hits in six games since August began; hitting .150 (3-for-20) with nine strikeouts in that span

THOMAS: Has hit safely in all nine of his games since being promoted to Memphis; nine of his 14 hits are extra-base hits

TOVAR: Is hitting .322 (37-for-115) over last 32 games; recently snapped a season-long nine-game hitting streak

URIAS: Rejoins Memphis for third stint of the season; hitting .300 (67-for-223) between Memphis and Springfield

WILLIAMS: Went 2-for-4 in his first start with the Redbirds on Saturday; hit a home run in the loss as well

WISDOM: Thursday, hit 14th home run of the season; has the fourth-most home runs and RBI in franchise history

BY THE NUMBERS

467 calendar days have passed since the Redbirds were not in first place (April 27, 2017); they have played 235 regular season games since that time.

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds dropped an insane game to the Fresno Grizzlies Tuesday night in Memphis. The final score was 15-14 in a game that featured 29 runs and 27 hits. It was the longest nine-inning game the Redbirds had played this season, lasting 3:44, 22 minutes longer than the previous mark.

Neither starter pitched deep into the game. Fresno's starter allowed seven runs in just 1.1 innings, while Jake Woodford allowed five through four innings for the Redbirds.

In the game, both Carson Kelly (7) and Ramon Urias (4) hit solo home runs. The 'Birds scored seven runs in the second inning, and three in both the eighth and ninth innings, but couldn't pull off the win.

Five Memphis relievers combined to throw the final five innings, allowing 10 runs, nine earned. Tommy Layne took the loss, allowing his first runs in a Memphis uniform. He allowed five runs, four earned, in just 0.1 inning.

Four of the five relievers allowed at least one earned run. Andrew Morales (1.0IP) is the only one who didn't.

Rangel Ravelo went 2-for-5 with four RBI to extend his hitting streak to 13-games. Lane Thomas also went 2-for-6 with two RBI to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

RAVELO ON FIRE: In Tuesday night's loss to Fresno, infielder Rangel Ravelo went 2-for-5 at the plate, driving in four of the 14 Memphis runs, and walking once, to extend his season-long hitting streak to 13 games. During this stretch, he is hitting .404 (19-for-47), scoring 14 runs, hitting two doubles, three home runs, driving in 13 runs, walking eight times, and striking out just six times. Although Adolis Garcia's 14-game hitting streak ended Sunday, Memphis accomplished the rare feat of having two players with at least 10-game hitting streaks at the same. If Lane Thomas and Ravelo both record hits tonight, they will also both have 10-game hitting streaks at the same time. Ravelo, in the midst of one of his finest seasons, is hitting .304 (91-for-299) in 86 games with a career-high 12 home runs. Since he joined Memphis last season, he now has hit safely in at least 10-straight games twice. He hit in 15-straight last season (May 9-June 3). He is now one of five Redbirds to have a hitting streak of at least 10 games this season. Tyler O'Neill (10), Yairo Munoz (10), Adolis Garcia (14), and Patrick Wisdom (16) have also accomplished the feat.

LANE IS PRETTY GOOD: In Tuesday night's loss, centerfielder Lane Thomas continued his hot-hitting with the Redbirds. Since being transferred from Springfield nine games ago, Thomas has been a force at the plate. Tuesday, he went 2-for-5 at the plate, scoring once and driving in two runs. This came just two days after he hit a three-run home run and came around to score the winning run in Sunday's comeback win. Sunday, his home run came with two outs in the fifth inning, leading to the first runs of the game for Memphis. With the new pace of play rules, as he made the last out in the ninth inning, he started the 10th inning on second base. He scored the winning run on Rangel Ravelo's bloop single. He has recorded a hit in each game he has played with Memphis, and has notched multiple hits in six of the nine games. In his debut, he went 3-for-6, falling a home run short of the cycle. He hit a home run the next night. With Memphis, he is hitting .372 (16-for-43). Nine of his 14 hits have been for extra bases.

14 NOT QUITE ENOUGH: In Tuesday night's loss to Fresno, the 'Birds fell 15-14. It was the first time the Redbirds had lost when scoring at least 10 runs this season. The Redbirds had previously been 11-0 before Tuesday night's game. Memphis is now 50-9 when scoring at least five runs this season, and 0-7 when allowing 10 or more runs in a game.

PITCHING WOES: In Tuesday night's loss to Fresno, the Redbirds gave up a season-high 15 runs, falling 15-14. The pitching staff, which has been dominant all season, has struggled mightily since the calendar turned to August. In seven games this month, the Redbirds are 3-4 with a 6.75 ERA in 64.0 innings, having allowed 50 runs, 48 of them earned. The starters, which have been particularly dominant this year, are a combined 2-3 with an 8.61 ERA and just two quality starts. They have allowed 31 earned runs in just 34.2 innings, allowing six home runs. The most earned runs the Memphis starters have allowed in a month this season is 57, which came in 30 May games. They also allowed a season-high 15 home runs in May. The bullpen this month has also struggled. They allowed 10 runs, nine earned in Tuesday's loss to Fresno. In seven games this month, they have a record of 1-1 with a 5.26 ERA in 29.1 innings this month. They have allowed 19 runs, 17 earned, while walking 11, striking out 25, and allowing four home runs. With only three pitchers and no starters remaining from the Opening Day roster, the 'Birds are struggling to find their consistency on the mound. On July 25, the 'Birds owned the best ERA in the league with a 3.27 mark.

IT WAS QUITE THE RUN: In Tuesday night's loss to Fresno, left-handed Memphis reliever Tommy Layne took the loss for the Redbirds. He lasted just 0.1 inning, allowing three hits, five runs, four earned, and one walk. Until that game, Layne had appeared in 17 games for the Redbirds, spanning 17 innings, and had not allowed an earned run, and had allowed just one total run. Layne has also posted insane strikeout numbers with the Redbirds. He has struck out 25 batters with the 'Birds this season.

WISDOM CONTINUES TO MAKE HISTORY: Tuesday, Patrick Wisdom went 1-for-4 at the plate, scoring once, and driving in one with a sacrifice fly. Wisdom is now hitting a career-high .284 (99-for-349) this season. Wisdom's career-high in hits came last season with Memphis when he recorded 111. With under 30 games left to play this season, Wisdom is very near his career mark. With his career-year, Wisdom is now in the top-10 or just outside it for many offensive categories in Redbird history. Wisdom has played the 10th-most games in franchise history (306), is now has the seventh-most doubles in franchise history (67), has the fourth-most home runs (50), has the fourth-most RBI (175), the fifth-most extra-base hits (120), the ninth-most total bases (494), and the 10th-most at-bats (1,067). He is also outside the top-10 in multiple other categories, including runs scored, hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches. He needs just four more runs scored, and 13 more walks. Unfortunately, Wisdom is also just six strikeouts from passing John Nelson for the most in franchise history. Wisdom has also hit 28 home runs at AutoZone Park in his career, tied for the second-most in Redbird history.

HI, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?: After all the activity over the last week with the Trade Deadline passing, the Redbirds have almost an entirely different roster than the one they had opening night. Only three of the original 13 pitchers are still with Memphis. John Brebbia, Jack Flaherty, John Gant, Austin Gomber, Dakota Hudson, and Daniel Poncedeleon are all with St. Louis. Meanwhile, Derian Gonzalez is with Springfield, and Sean Gilmartin, Preston Guilmet, and Arturo Reyes are no longer in the organization. Only Kevin Herget, Andrew Morales, and Edward Mujica remain among Opening Day pitchers. Additionally, four Opening Day position players are no longer with the team. Tyler O'Neill and Adolis Garcia have been recalled to St. Louis, while Oscar Mercado was traded to Cleveland, and Luke Voit traded to the Yankees. The Redbirds have had 172 transactions this season, 59 total players, 17 players who have made their Triple-A debuts, and five players who have made their Major League debuts. The 172 transactions this season are already the most in franchise history with over a month left to play.

NEW GUYS NEED TO STEP UP: With Adolis Garcia's contract being purchased by St. Louis earlier this week, and Wilfredo Tovar and Max Schrock going on the Disabled List Tuesday, the 'Birds are now without many of their offensive weapons. With the trades of Luke Voit and Oscar Mercado, and Tyler O'Neill and Garcia going to St. Louis, Memphis has lost nearly all its power. Voit (9), Mercado (8), O'Neill (26), Tovar (4), Schrock (4) and Garcia (21) have combined for 72 of the Redbirds' 125 home runs this season. Paul DeJong and Yairo Munoz, both with St. Louis, have combined for four home runs as well. With that, Memphis is now missing 76 of its home runs this season (61 percent). With those eight players not on the active roster, the 'Birds are also missing 308 of 585 runs scored, 553 of 1,064 hits, 105 of their 210 doubles, nine of their 15 triples, 299 of their 556 RBI, and 62 of their 98 stolen bases.

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 August 9, 2018


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