PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

GAME NOTES: Memphis Redbirds vs Iowa Cubs --

Published on May 28, 2017 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (30-20) vs. Iowa Cubs (22-26) Sunday, May 28 * 6:35 p.m. (CT) * AutoZone Park (10,000) * Memphis, Tennessee Game #51 * Home Game #22 (12-9) RHP Mike Mayers (3-5, 5.67) vs. RHP Seth Frankoff (0-2, 3.16)

THE GAME TODAY'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds continue their eight-game homestand with the second game of a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs (Cubs). Memphis is coming off a 4-4 road trip through California while Iowa dropped three of four at home to Reno. Today's game will be broadcast on Sports56 and 87.7 FM and internet webcast at MemphisRedbirds.com, with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Memphis hands the ball to Mike Mayers in this evening's contest. The righthander is in the midst of an inconsistent stretch where he has authored three quality starts in his last five outings, but has allowed five earned runs in five innings or fewer in the other two starts. One of the quality starts, though, came against Iowa on May 6. He didn't allow a run in six innings, limiting the Cubs to four hits and three walks. Memphis went on to win the game 5-2 behind a five-run eighth inning.

Iowa counters with Seth Frankoff in his eighth start and 10th outing of the year. Frankoff enters tonight's start ranking among league leaders in WHIP (0.98, 1st), opponents average (.186, 2nd), K/9 among starters (9.86 (3rd), and ERA (3.16, 4th). He faced the Redbirds on May 8 in a no-decision, but limited Memphis to two runs on two hits in six frames. The only runs came via a Paul DeJong homer.

SCHEDULE WITH IOWA: The Redbirds and I-Cubs renew acquaintances for the second series of four this season. Memphis snagged the first set in Des Moines earlier this month by winning the first three games as part of a franchise-best 11-game winning streak. Memphis and Iowa have split the last two season series. After this four-game set, the two teams will not see each other again until eight straight matchups from August 24-31.

THIS DATE IN REDBIRDS HISTORY (May 28, 2014): On a night when Memphis and Iowa were slated to play a doubleheader, the first game started four hours late and ended with the lone walk-off home run of the season. Xavier Scruggs was the hero, blasting a solo shot onto the TruGreen Bluff. In an odd turn of events, the second game was suspended at the end of the sixth inning due to league curfew rules.

BIRD BITES BADER: Hits in seven of his last 10 games (15-for-40, .375, 2B, 2 HR, 8 R, 5 RBI); two 4H and one 3H game in stretch CALDWELL: Promoted to Memphis today after hitting .245 with seven home runs in Double-A Springfield CUNNINGHAM: 7-for-14 in his last four games after an 0-for-19 skid HUFFMAN: Hitting .386 (17-for-44, 5 2B, HR, 9 R, 6 RBI) at home compared to .215 (14-for-65) on the road KELLY: Hits in 15 of his last 18 games (28-for-70, .400, 6 2B, 3 HR, 16 R, 12 RBI); nine multi-hit games in his last 18 MARTINI: Seven doubles in 20 games with Memphis; hitless in only five starts RAVELO: Hits in nine straight games since May 9 (12-for-30, .400, 2 2B, 6 R, 6 RBI) ROSARIO: Has accrued six RBI in his last four games after none in his first 11 appearances TOVAR: Nine-game hitting streak ended Friday night (11-for-32, .344, 3 R, 2 RBI) after an RBI groundout as a pinch-hitter VALERA: Hitless in back to back games for the first time since April 24-25 VOIT: Hitless in three straight games (0-for-9), longest stretch since 0-for-11 (4 games) from April 14-17 WISDOM: Hits in last seven starts (9-for-30, .300, 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI)

BY THE NUMBERS 11 homers for Paul DeJong, leading the Cardinals system; had contract purchased by STL today 0.77 bullpen ERA for the Redbirds in the last three games (1 ER in 11.2 IP)

THE SEASON ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Memphis had ample opportunities early in the contest, stranding eight runners in the first five innings, but ultimately could not break through in a 2-1 loss to Iowa. Cubs pitching retired the final 13 Redbird hitters after a Paul DeJong RBI single in the fifth.

John Gant pitched well in his third start of the year, limiting the Cubs to two runs on five hits in five innings.

NO STREAKING ALLOWED: Memphis' setback last night continued a trend of alternating wins and losses in the last 11 games (5-6). The Redbirds have not won back-to-back games since a three-game stretch from May 13-15. That was followed by back-to-back setbacks, the last of which began this 11-game stretch of W's and L's.

The Redbirds are hitting .286 in the last 11 games and averaging 4.8 runs per game. However, Memphis has left opportunities on the table by going just 20-for-81 (.246) with runners in scoring position and stranding 72 runners. Of the 20 hits, six came in the 13-3 win on Friday and four came in the ninth inning of last Monday's 9-0 win at Fresno. Thirty-four of the 72 runners have been stranded while in scoring position with two outs, a situation in which Memphis is hitting just .248 this season.

MEMPHIS MASHERS: The Redbirds did not last homer last night, keeping their season-long total to 56. Memphis is now 9-13 on the year when not hitting at least one home run. The 'Birds have now fallen to fourth in the circuit standings behind El Paso (59), Nashville (62), and Oklahoma City (61), but keep hitting their homers in bunches. Friday night was already the eighth game this season with at least three homers in the game for the Redbirds.

The Redbirds are still way ahead of their pace from a season ago when the squad did not hit its 56th homer until game 78, which came on June 28.

Additionally last season, Memphis had just five players hit seven or more homers all season. This year, the Redbirds already have five players with at least seven bombs: Carson Kelly (7), Harrison Bader (8), Luke Voit (8), Patrick Wisdom (9), and Paul DeJong (11).

HOME COOKING: Memphis has played only 21 contests at AutoZone Park so far this year, the fewest in the Pacific Coast League. That is about to change though as the Redbirds will play 14 of the next 18 in the Bluff City.

The Redbirds have made the most of their brief time at home, posting 68 extra-base hits, including 24 home runs. The Redbirds hit 49 homers all of last season at home.

STOP HITTING ME: The Redbirds were hit an astounding four times in Friday's game, two each for Chad Huffman and Todd Cunningham. Memphis has now been hit 37 times, which is far and away the most in the PCL (Round Rock, 22).

Cunningham now been hit eight times this year, which leads the PCL. Five of the HBP's have come in the last six contests.

AMONG THE ORGANIZATION: The Redbirds pepper the Cardinals minor league affiliate leaderboard in multiple offensive categories:

- AVG: Voit (.331, 1st), Kelly (.320, 2nd), DeJong (.294, 5th), Bader (.293, 6th), Martini (.289, 7th), and Cunningham (.284, t-8) - HR: DeJong (11, 1st), Wisdom (9, 2nd), Voit (8, t-3), Bader (8, t-3), Kelly (7, t-5) - RBI: Wisdom (31, t-1), DeJong (31, t-1), Voit (29, 3rd), and Martini (26, 4th),

CONNECT FOUR: The Redbirds are averaging 5.0 runs per games this season, ranking seventh in the league in total runs. But so far this season, four runs has usually been enough for Memphis.

The Redbirds have scored at least four runs in their last 16 victories and are 21-1 when scoring at least five runs in a game this year.

STARTING OUT QUICK: The Redbirds have scored 30 runs in the first inning and 30 runs in the second inning of games, which are two of their most fruitful frames of the season.

Memphis has scored first in 30 of its initial 49 games this season, which is second in the PCL. However, the Redbirds are just 19-11 overall in those contests, which is middle of the pack in the league. Iowa has scored the first run a league-leading 31 times, going 19-12 in such contests.

The Redbirds have scored the game's final run 24 times and are 18-6 (2nd in the PCL) in such games.

RUN, RUN, RUNAWAY: The Redbirds are 17-for-41 in steal attempts and have been picked off 12 times. The 24 caught stealings are second in the PCL, trailing only Salt Lake (30, 67-for-97). Additionally, the Redbirds are the only PCL team to have a success rate less than 50 percent. Memphis stole its first base in 17 games Wednesday, dating back to May 6. The 'Birds have attempted only six stolen bases in the last 19 contests.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST: Monday's seven-run ninth inning last Monday was the second-largest inning of the season for Memphis, trailing only an eight-run outburst in the ninth inning at Iowa on 5/8. In fact, the Redbirds' three highest-scoring innings this year have been in the ninth inning when you include a six-run rally at Oklahoma City on 4/22.

Memphis has scored 35 runs in the ninth, more than any other inning this season. Twenty-one of those runs have come in just three games.

EXTRA, EXTRA: The Redbirds have recorded 169 extra-base hits this season (102 doubles, 11 triples, 56 home runs), which is second in the PCL (Reno, 186). The 'Birds have vaulted to sixth in the league in hitting (.279), and are third in total bases (770), and slugging percentage (.449).

Yesterday was the first time in 17 contests that Memphis did not record at least one extra-base hit.

NOTHING FOR YOU: Memphis became the final PCL team to post a shutout this season by virtue of last Monday's 9-0 win at Fresno.

The Redbirds have held their opponent to one run 11 times and have lost a shutout bid in the seventh inning or later eight times. Yesterday was the first time all year Memphis lost when allowing two runs or fewer, falling to 16-1 on the season in such situations.

TURNED UP TO ELEVEN: Memphis posted a franchise-record 11-game winning streak from April 28 - May 8. The Redbirds outscored opponents 81-38 during the run, scoring at least four runs nine times and limiting the opponent to two runs or fewer on seven occasions. Memphis dominated on both sides of the diamond, hitting .330 with 19 homers over the stretch while averaging 7.4 runs per game. On the mound, Redbird pitchers posted a 3.43 ERA.

The wins came in a variety of ways for Memphis, with seven of the 11 decided by three runs or fewer, five victories coming from behind, three last at-bat triumphs, and two wins in extra innings.

MEMPHIS PLAYERS AND COACHES CLEAR THE DE-CK: Paul DeJong was called up to the Cardinals for the first time in his career today, and can thank his power for progressing his prospect status. The infielder leads the organization with 11 homers, 10 of which have come in his last 27 games. During that time, DeJong has collected 25 RBI, highlighted by six multi-RBI games. He had just one homer and six RBI in his first 19 games of the year before finding his recent success.

THE JITTERBUG: John Brebbia has turned himself into one of the most reliable performers in the Redbird bullpen. Brebbia picked up saves in three of his last four appearances, and yesterday, was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time in his career.

Prior to having his contract purchased, Brebbia had not allowed a run in his last nine outings, covering 16 innings. During that time, he yielded only three hits, struck out 19, and walked four. The righthander had a 1.16 ERA in 14 relief appearances this year and ranked among PCL relievers in fewest baserunners/9 (6.08, 1st) and opponents' average (.127, 2nd).

BADER BREAKING OUT: Harrison Bader has been a one-man wrecking crew as of late, racking up another multi-hit game Friday night. He has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games, picking up two four-hit games and a three-hit contest in the process (15-for-40, .375, 2B, 2 HR, 8 R, 5 RBI).

THE KELLY FILE: Carson Kelly has caught 23 of the last 30 games for Memphis and leads the league in games behind the plate with 35. He hasn't let the heavy workload affect his offensive performance. In his last 18 games, he has recorded nine multi-hit contests and increased his average 96 points to .320 (28-for-70, .400, 6 2B, 3 HR, 16 R, 13 RBI).

A NEW SHERRIFF IN TOWN: Ryan Sherriff has been one of the most heavily used relievers in the PCL this season, appearing in 20 games, tied for third-most in the league. The southpaw has allowed runs in only five of his outings and is currently riding an 8.1-inning scoreless streak over his last six appearances.

Six of the 10 runs Sherriff has allowed this year came in one outing at Colorado Springs on April 19. Aside from that, Sherriff has a 1.69 ERA (4 ER/21.1 IP).

PROSPECTING: The Cardinals organization has seen a steady growth in its prospect ranking the last three years, elevating from 15th to 14th to 12th this season, according to Baseball America. While top prospect Alex Reyes is sidelined for the season, seven of the top 30 prospects tabbed by the publication are currently on the Redbirds roster. That includes Luke Weaver (#2), Carson Kelly (#4), Harrison Bader (#7), Marco Gonzales (#13), Sam Tuivailala (#23), John Gant (#27), and Breyvic Valera (#29).

THE ROSTER: Of the 24 players who comprise Memphis' active roster, 20 appeared at Triple-A last season, be it with Memphis or another organization. Of those who played at Triple-A, 12 donned a Redbirds uniform. Additionally, the roster is full of MLB experience with 11 players combining for 271 games played.

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 28, 2017


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