IL Memphis Redbirds

Memphis Redbirds Game Notes: June 13, 2021

June 13, 2021 - International League (IL)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Sunday, June 13th 2:05 p.m CT Memphis Redbirds (14-21) vs Gwinnett Stripers (18-17) Game 6 of 6

AutoZone Park / Memphis, TN Game #36 of 120 / Home Game #24 of 60

LHP Bernardo Flores, Jr. (2-2, 5.48 ERA) vs. RHP Connor Johnstone (1-4, 5.47 ERA)

MiLB.tv & First Pitch App: Evan Stockton & Justin Gallanty

Last Time Out: The Redbirds made it back-to-back wins over the Gwinnett Stripers, scoring a run in the first and never looking back en route to a 6-1 win on Saturday night. Matthew Liberatore twirled a gem on the mound. The top prospect in St. Louis' system was electric for Memphis, allowing just one run on four hits in 5.2 innings while striking out six. Kramer Robertson contributed a two-run single - in the past two games, the former LSU Tiger has five walks, two hits and two runs driven in. Conner Capel also smacked a solo home run over the right-field fence leading off the bottom of the fifth, his second home run in as many games.

Memphis Starter: Bernardo Flores, Jr. will make his seventh appearance overall and his fourth start this season for the Redbirds. The lefthander has struggled in his past three outings. In 8.1 combined innings, he has allowed 11 earned runs on seven hits plus nine walks. In his prior two outings, Flores had gone a combined 9.2 innings with just one earned run allowed. The native Californian had struck out 13 batters in the process with just two walks against him. Flores last pitched last Saturday night against Toledo, allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Gwinnett Starter: Connor Johnstone makes his second start for Gwinnett this series on Sunday afternoon. The righthander began the ballgame against Memphis on Thursday evening, pitching two scoreless and hitless innings. Overall, this is Johnstone's ninth appearance and seventh start of the year. He also started against Memphis on May 29 and gave up five runs in four innings. Prior to that start, Johnstone had allowed more than two runs in just one of his first four outings of the season. The 26-year-old made seven appearances with Gwinnett in 2019 and had a 4.97 ERA in 12.2 innings. Johnstone was the Braves' 21st round pick in 2017 out of Wake Forest.

Rally Birds: Friday night marked another comeback win for the Memphis Redbirds. 10 of the 'Birds 14 wins this season have occurred in come-from-behind fashion. Memphis also has six walk-off wins and nine one-run wins.

Free Bases: The Redbirds offense drew 10 walks in the win against Gwinnett on Friday night. Memphis batters were also hit by three pitches. The 13 free passes were a season-high and the 10 walks tied a season-high, marking the third time the 'Birds have walked 10 times in a game this year.

Lockdown Bullpen: The Memphis bullpen has done an outstanding job in the wins over the Stripers the past two nights. Seven different pitchers have combined to throw 10.0 scoreless innings with just four hits allowed while striking out 10 batters. Grant Black was very impressive on Saturday night, allowing just one hit in two scoreless relief frames with three swinging strikeouts.

Turning Three: In game one of Wednesday night's doubleheader, the Redbirds turned a triple play. With runners on first and second and no outs in the top of the sixth inning, Roel Ramírez induced a ground ball to third base. Rayder Ascanio fielded the ball, stepped on third, threw to Irving Lopez at second and Lopez completed the triple play with a strong relay throw to first. It was the first triple play for the Redbirds since 2007 and 14th triple play in Memphis professional baseball history.

Hey, It's Me Again: The Redbirds and Gwinnett Stripers are becoming quite used to seeing one another. The Triple-A affiliates of the Cardinals and Braves are scheduled to play 24 total games against one another this season, tied for the most common opponent that Memphis will have. Memphis just visited Gwinnett for a six-game series from May 25-30.

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics



International League Stories from June 13, 2021


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