Sports stats



PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (79-52) vs Nashville Sounds (68-63)

August 26, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (79-52) vs Nashville Sounds (68-63)

Sunday, August 26 - 2:05 p.m. (CT) - AutoZone Park (10,000) - Memphis, Tennessee

Game #132 - Home Game #69 (39-29)

RHP Daniel Poncedeleon (9-3, 2.15 ERA) vs. LHP Danny Coulombe (2-1, 2.49 ERA)

THE GAME

TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds will play game three of a four-game set today at 2:05 p.m. in Memphis. With their walk-off win last night, the Redbirds secured their second-consecutive American Southern Division title. It is the second time in franchise history they have won back-to-back division titles, the other time being in 2009 and 2010. This is the last home series of the regular-season for the Redbirds. Memphis is coming off a 2-1 series loss to the New Orleans Baby Cakes and Nashville is coming off a 2-1 series loss to the Round Rock Express. Both teams have nine games remaining this season, and six will be played against one another. Earlier today, pitcher Dominic Leone was activated by St. Louis with his injury rehab ending, and pitcher Ryan Sherriff was released by the organization. Today's game will be broadcast on www.memphisredbirds.com and on WLMT CW30 with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon will take the mound for the Redbirds in today's game. Poncedeleon will be making his first appearance with the Redbirds since July 15 when he turned in one of the finest performances in Redbirds history. The righty threw a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit and two walks, while striking out five. The performance earned him a spot on the big league roster. In his MLB debut, he threw seven no-hit innings before being pulled due to a high pitch count. With St. Louis, he made two starts and five relief appearances, going 0-0 with one save and a 2.08 ERA in 21.2 innings of work. With the Redbirds this season, he is 9-3 with a 2.15 ERA in 92.0 innings. In two starts against Nashville this year, Poncedeleon is 1-0, having allowed three earned runs in 11 innings of work.

The Sounds will send left-hander Danny Coulombe to the mound to battle Poncedeleon and the Redbirds. This will be a spot start for the lefty, and his first start of the season. He has not had an appearance longer than two innings this season. This will be the first start of his professional career. In 21 relief appearances with Nashville this season, he is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA. In 26 relief appearances with Oakland this season, he is 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA in 23.2 innings this season.

HISTORY WITH NASHVILLE: Memphis and Nashville have played every year dating back to 1998 when Memphis joined the PCL. Nashville has been affiliated with Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Oakland in that span, while Memphis has remained affiliated with St. Louis. Both teams have nine games remaining this season, and six of them will be played against one another. In the nine games they have played this season, Nashville leads the series 6-4, winning both series 3-1. So far this season, Nashville is outperforming Memphis on the mound, while Memphis is outperforming Nashville at the plate. The Redbirds are hitting .251, while Nashville is hitting .248. The Sounds are posting a 3.29 ERA, while Memphis has a 4.34 mark.

BIRD BITES

AROZARENA: Reached base in all four plate appearances Friday night, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and HR

BARON: Has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games since June; had a season-long eight-game hitting streak in that stretch

GARCIA: Friday night, hit leadoff for first time this season, going 2-for-5 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored

KELLY: Tues. night, snapped five-game walk streak, and has a career-high 43 walks with Memphis this season

MEJIA: Is now hitless in his last five games after going 0-for-4 last night; second-longest stretch of season

RAVELO: Was activated from the Disabled List yesterday, hitting second, and snapped 16-game hitting streak

SCHROCK: Went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI last Sat. night in his first game back after spending 10 games on DL

SOSA: Wednesday night, went 2-for-4 with two doubles, extending his current hitting streak to four games

THOMAS: Scored the winning run in last night's game to secure the walk-off win and the division title for Memphis

TOVAR: Last night, hit game-tying single in ninth; winning run came around to score when center fielder committed error

WILLIAMS: Drove in all three runs Memphis scored from 8/19-8/22 on a solo home run and two-run home run

WISDOM: Hit home run in first game back with Memphis; recorded ML first hit on 8/12 and first home run on 8/19

BY THE NUMBERS

2 instances in franchise history where the Redbirds have won back-to-back division titles. 2009 and 2010, and now 2017 and 2018.

BY THE NUMBERS

6 division titles in Memphis Redbirds history; 2000, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2018. Memphis won the PCL title in 2000, 2009, and 2017.

BY THE NUMBERS

197 transactions are a franchise record; 60 different players have worn a Memphis uniform this year

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis Redbirds won last night's game in walk-off fashion, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3 and secure their second-consecutive division title.

Memphis starter Austin Warner threw 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out two batters.

After Warner exited the game, three Memphis relievers combined to shutdown the Sounds' offense. Giovanny Gallegos, Tyler Webb, and John Brebbia each threw one plus innings in the win. They did not allow a hit or walk, and combined to strikeout eight batters. Brebbia earned the win, throwing the final 1.2 innings.

The 'Birds scratched runs across in the sixth and seventh before scoring two in the ninth. A run scored in the sixth when Rangel Ravelo grounded into a double play. Adolis Garcia tripled to lead off the seventh and scored on Justin Williams' ground out.

In the ninth, Carson Kelly walked with one out and was replaced by pinch-runner Edmundo Sosa. Lane Thomas walked with two outs to put runners on first and second. Wilfredo Tovar singled up the middle to score Sosa, and the center fielder bobbled the ball, allowing Thomas to score.

BACK-TO-BACK DIVISION CHAMPS: Last night, the Redbirds walked off in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete the comeback and secure their second-consecutive American Southern Division title. The Redbirds have now won their division in consecutive seasons for the second time in franchise history. They also won in 2009 and 2010. They went on to win the PCL Championship in 2009 before being beat out of the playoffs in the second round in 2010. The Redbirds have made the playoffs in 2000, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, and now 2018. They were crowned PCL Champs in 2000, 2009, and 2017. The PCL Playoffs begin on September 5. The first two games of his year's opening round will be played in the home ballpark of the American Northern Division Champions. As of right now, Oklahoma City leads Colorado Springs by 0.5 games in that division. Game three and any necessary games after that will be played in Memphis. Memphis won the regular season series against both teams with records of 11-5 against Colorado Springs, and 10-6 against Oklahoma City.

HAVE A NIGHT, TOVAR: Last night, the lone Redbird to record a multi-hit game was infielder Wilfredo Tovar. Tovar went 2-for-4 in the game, driving in one run officially. With runners on first and second in the ninth, Tovar shot a game-tying single up the middle to score the lead runner, pinch-runner Edmundo Sosa. The center fielder for Nashville booted the ball in his hurry to get it in, and Lane Thomas scrambled home to score the winning run on the error. Tovar's clutch hit gave the Redbirds their second walk-off win of the season, and secured their second-straight division title. Tovar's big night continued his recent hot streak at the plate. Since returning from the Disabled List on August 14, he has played in nine games, hitting safely in all but one. He also has four multi-hit games in that stretch. Since returning to the team, he is hitting .375 (12-for-32) with four runs scored, three doubles, one triple, and three RBI. He is hitting .292 (96-for-329) this season.

WHAT A WHACKY WIN: In last night's win to seal the division, the Redbirds had a whacky comeback. Nashville pitcher Frankie Montas had allowed just one baserunner through 4.1 innings, a first inning walk to Patrick Wisdom. He no-hit the 'Birds until Carson Kelly singled in the fifth inning. The 'Birds trailed 3-0 until the sixth when they loaded the bases with no outs and a run scored on a Rangel Ravelo double play ball. They scored another run on a Justin Williams ground out in the seventh before posting a huge comeback in the ninth. Lane Thomas and Carson Kelly reached on walks in the ninth, and Kelly was replaced for a pinch-runner, Edmundo Sosa. With two outs, Wilfredo Tovar singled up the middle to score Sosa, and Thomas came around on a fielding error on the center fielder. It was just the second walk-off win for Memphis this season, and their second in the month of August. The Redbirds are now 2-44 when trailing after the eighth inning this season. Memphis now has nine comeback wins after the seventh as well.

BULLPEN SHUTS IT DOWN: Last night, Memphis starter Austin Warner exited the game after 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits, while walking three and striking out two. Three Memphis relievers followed him, and dominated the Sounds' hitters. Giovanny Gallegos stranded the lone runner he inherited in the fifth when he relieved Warner. He struck out both batters he faced in that frame before retiring all three he faced in the next inning. Tyler Webb came in for the seventh inning, and was untouchable. He retired every batter he faced, striking out two of them in his 1.1 inning of work. John Brebbia pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out three, and retiring every batter he faced in the game to earn the win for the 'Birds. The 'pen has been a steadying force in what has been a rough month on the mound for the Redbirds. The bullpen is 6-3 with a 3.13 ERA this month. They have allowed just 35 runs, 32 earned, in 92.1 innings of work. They have walked just 25 batters, and whiffed 86. The starters this month by comparison are 5-9 with a 5.80 ERA in 113.2 innings of work. They have allowed 78 runs, 73 earned, while walking 39, and whiffing 87. The starters have also allowed 18 home runs this month, while the relievers have allowed just nine.

WIZ IS BACK WITH A BANG: Last night, Patrick Wisdom went 1-for-4 at the plate, with a walk. On Thursday, in his first game back with the team since making his Major League debut, Wisdom made an immediate impact, going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in the game. With the Cardinals, Wisdom hit .333 (4-for-12), hitting one home run, scoring four times, and driving in three runs. With his performance for the 'Birds last night, he is still hitting a career-best .289 (106-for-367) this season. Having spent the better part of the last three seasons with Memphis, Wisdom is in the top-10, or just outside it, for many Redbird records. He has the fourth-most home runs at 51, the third-most RBI at 180, the fifth-most extra-base hits at 123, is tied for the sixth-most doubles at 69, has the eight-most total bases at 506, has played the 10th-most games at 311, and has the 10th-most at-bats at 1,085. Additionally, he is just outside the top-10 in runs at 162, hits at 278, and walks at 107. He needs just two more runs scored to get into the top-10, 12 more walks, and 25 more hits to reach the top-10. However, he has struck out 333 times in his Redbird career. With two more strikeouts, he will tie John Nelson for the most strikeouts in Memphis history. Since Wisdom rejoined the team from St. Louis on Thursday, the 'Birds have won three-straight games. They were just 3-8 while he was on St. Louis' roster.

GARCIA ON A ROLL: Last night, outfielder Adolis Garcia went 1-for-5 at the plate, hitting a triple and scoring a run. Earlier this week, he launched a solo home run in Thursday's series finale win over New Orleans. It was his 22nd home run of the season, extending his career-high. It was his first home run since returning from his first big league stint with St. Louis. After going hitless in his first four games back with Memphis, Garcia has been clicking at the plate. After last night's performance, he has now hit safely in six of his last seven and has recorded multiple hits in three of those games. Over the last seven games, he is hitting .310 (9-for-29) at the plate.

GALLEGOS IS DEALING: Since being traded to the organization late last month from the Yankees, right-handed reliever Giovanny Gallegos has been dominant on the mound. The righty has made 10 appearances spanning 13.1 innings. In last night's game, he retired every batter he faced in his 1.1 innings following starter Austin Warner's departure from the game. In his 10 games with Memphis, Gallegos is 0-0 with one save and a 0.68 ERA. He has allowed just six hits, one run and three walks, while striking out 14 batters. Opponents are hitting just .140 (6-for-43) off him since he joined the Redbirds.

CANONS IN THE OUTFIELD: In last night's win over outfielder Justin Williams cut down a runner trying to go home in the first inning, limiting the damage to just one run for Nashville. It was Williams' fourth outfield assist since joining the Redbirds early this month. He has four assists in 16 games in the field. Adolis Garcia leads the team with 14 outfield assists, and led the league in assists for a good part of the season. Teams stopped running on him early on because of his arm. Since joining the team last month, Lane Thomas also has two outfield assists for the 'Birds.

SOME FAMILIARITY: Starting for Memphis today will be right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon. It will be his first start with the team since July 15 when he threw a one-hit, complete game shutout over Omaha. Poncedeleon has spent the last month with St. Louis. Poncedeleon was part of the Opening Day rotation for Memphis. He and the four other pitchers in that rotation, John Gant, Dakota Hudson, Jack Flaherty, and Austin Gomber have all spent good portions of the season with St. Louis. This will be the first time Memphis has had one of their Opening Day rotation guys on the mound since July 25 when Hudson made the start for Memphis. Hudson was pulled after one inning in that game, having been called up to the big leagues.

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.

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 26, 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