IL Memphis Redbirds

Memphis Redbirds Game Notes: June 5, 2021

Published on June 5, 2021 under International League (IL)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Saturday, June 5th 6:35 p.m CT Memphis Redbirds (12-16) vs Toledo Mud Hens (12-15) Game 5 of 6

AutoZone Park / Memphis, TN Game #29 of 120 / Home Game #17 of 60

LHP Bernardo Flores, Jr. (2-1, 4.60 ERA) vs RHP Drew Hutchison (1-2, 4.07 ERA)

MiLB First Pitch App: Evan Stockton & Justin Gallanty

Last Time Out: The Redbirds became the Rallybirds once again on Friday night, coming back in the bottom of the 10th from down 5-4 to win 6-5. Justin Toerner coaxed a bases loaded walk with two outs, scoring Kramer Robertson and sending a hearty AutoZone Park crowd home happy. The 'Birds needed an earlier rally to force the game to extra innings, as Ali Sánchez lined a two-out, two-strike pitch for an RBI single in the 8th to tie the game at four. Memphis has now won three in a row overall and seven of its last nine games at home.

Memphis Starter: Bernardo Flores, Jr. will make his sixth appearance overall and his third start this season for the Redbirds. The lefthander has struggled in his past two outings. In 2.2 combined innings, he has allowed six earned runs on five hits plus seven 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.

Toledo Starter: Drew Hutchison toes the slab for Toledo tonight. In five prior starts this season the 30-year-old has posted a 4.07 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 13 walks in 24.1 IP. Hutchison has plenty of past MLB experience, making 98 total appearances (and 79 starts) with the Blue Jays, Pirates, Phillies and Rangers between 2012-18. He pitched in the Minor Leagues in three different organizations (Yankees, Twins, Angels) during the 2019 season, and joined the Tigers organization at the end of February.

Cleaning Up: Conner Capel has been red-hot since moving to the clean-up spot in the Redbirds order. Capel has hit fourth each of the last six contests and is 9-21 (BA of .429( with one home run, three RBI, six runs, two triples, and two doubles.

Strong Bullpen: The Redbirds bullpen has done an outstanding job in the past three games. Five different pitchers have combined to go 7.0 total innings without allowing an earned run, surrendering just three hits while striking out 10 in the process. Connor Jones and Evan Kruczynski have pitched each of the past two days, totaling 4.0 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and five strikeouts.

A Familiar Face: Paul DeJong is scheduled to begin an MLB rehab assignment with the Redbirds at AutoZone Park tonight. The shortstop has not played for St. Louis since May 12 due to a non-displaced left rib fracture. DeJong began the 2017 season with Memphis, appearing in 46 games with the Redbirds. He batted .294 during that time while smacking 11 home runs and driving in 31 runs. DeJong has been a fixture in the Cardinals' lineup since being called up from Memphis, highlighted by a banner 2019 season when he slugged 30 home runs and was named to the National League All-Star Team.

Swiping Bags: Evan Mendoza stole two bases in the first game of yesterday's doubleheader. That made him the first Redbird with multiple stolen bases in a game this season. Kramer Robertson also stole a base in the game, making it the first time this season the Redbirds have swiped three bags in a game.

Home Cooking: The Redbirds begin a 12-game-long homestand this week when they host Toledo at AutoZone Park. This two-week-long homestand continues next week against the Gwinnett Stripers. Memphis will have another 12-game homestand in August, when they host the Nashville Sounds and Columbus Clippers from August 17-29.

A New Foe: Opponents from the old Pacific Coast League and International League will square off this week, as the PCL's Memphis Redbirds host the IL's Toledo Mud Hens. The two teams are now part of the new Triple-A East, created prior to this season as part of the restructuring of Minor League Baseball by MLB. The Toledo Mud Hens are the long-time Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, having been with the club since 1987. Toledo is just about an hour's drive from Comerica Park, the home of the Tigers.

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics

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



International League Stories from June 5, 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