IL Memphis Redbirds

Memphis Redbirds Game Notes: June 6, 2021

Published on June 6, 2021 under International League (IL)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Sunday, June 6th 2:05 p.m CT Memphis Redbirds (12-17) vs Toledo Mud Hens (13-15) Game 6 of 6

AutoZone Park / Memphis, TN Game #30 of 120 / Home Game #18 of 60

RHP Grant Black (0-0, 5.51 ERA) vs RHP Beau Burrows (1-1, 6.46 ERA)

MiLB First Pitch App: Evan Stockton & Justin Gallanty

Last Time Out: The Redbirds fell by a score of 6-1 Saturday night at the hands of the Toledo Mud Hens. The 'Birds scored their lone run of the game in the fourth inning when Paul DeJong doubled and later scored on an error. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Memphis, who now needs a win Sunday to capture the series victory from Toledo.

Memphis Starter: Grant Black makes his Memphis debut this afternoon. The righthander was just transferred from Springfield (AA) earlier on Sunday. Black made 10 relief appearances with Springfield this season, posting a 5.51 ERA in 16.1 IP with 23 strikeouts and 15 walks. The Arkansas native pitched in independent baseball with the Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier League) and the New Britain Bees (Atlantic League) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, and joined the Cardinals' organization on a Minor League contract on February 1, 2020.

Toledo Starter: Beau Burrows opposes the Redbirds in the series finale. The righthander has yet to start this season for Toledo, making eight relief appearances and posting an ERA of 6.46. In 15.1 total innings, Burrows has struck out 16 batters and walked just five. The 24-year-old was picked by Detroit in the First Round of the 2015 Draft and is considered one of the top 30 prospects in the Tigers' system. Burrows appeared in five games with Detroit during the 2020 season, posting a 5.40 ERA and 3 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

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 seven contests and is 9-25 (BA of .360) 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 four games. Six different pitchers have combined to go 10.1 total innings while allowing just one earned run, surrendering only four hits while striking out 106in the process. Connor Jones, Evan Kruczynski and Roel Ramirez have pitched twice, totaling 6.2 combined scoreless innings with just two hits allowed and 10 strikeouts.

A Familiar Face: Paul DeJong began an MLB rehab assignment with the Redbirds at AutoZone Park on Saturday night, going 1-3 at the plate with a double. 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.

Fifth-Inning Woes: The Redbirds have struggled mightily in the fifth inning this season. They've been outscored 34-6 in the frame, including three runs surrendered to Toledo on Saturday night. In this series alone, Memphis has been outscored 7-0 in the fifth inning.

Home Cooking: The Redbirds began a 12-game-long homestand this week when they hosted Toledo at AutoZone Park. A season-high crowd of 5,375 fans enjoyed Saturday night's contest. 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.

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