Redbirds Capitalize on Early Lead, Win 11-5
Published on August 25, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Memphis Redbirds rode a five-run first inning to a 11-5 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs in the final game of a five-game series on Sunday afternoon at Principal Park.
The Redbirds took three of five from the Cubs and finished with a 10-6 series win in the sixteen-game season series.
Combined with the win by Omaha, Memphis (65-71) remains two games back in the PCL American Northern Division with eight games remaining to play. Iowa falls to six games behind Omaha in third place.
Memphis banged out 16 hits for 11 runs, which was the first double-digit run output since June 15. All eight positional players recorded at least one hit, five of which were multi-hit efforts.
Outfielder Chad Huffman went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored for his first multi-home run game since the slugger jacked three as a member of the Columbus Clippers on April 21, 2011 vs. Louisville. Outfielder Swauger added three hits and two runs scored.
Memphis jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Iowa starter Brooks Raley. With runners on second and third with no outs, first baseman Brock Peterson lined a two-run double down the third base line for his 81st and 82nd RBIs. Four batters with two Redbirds aboard, third baseman Vance Albitz slugged his first home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left field wall.
Huffman extended the Memphis lead to 7-0 with a towering two-run bomb over the left field wall in the next inning. His 10 home run of the year removed Raley from the contest.
One infield hit followed by four consecutive walks by Michael Blazek gave Iowa two runs in the fifth inning. Reliever Sam Freeman entered the contest and fanned Mike Olt to end the scoring rally with the bases loaded.
Ryan Jackson recorded his first extra-base hit since June 12 with an RBI double to score Swauger and give Memphis an 8-2 lead in the sixth.
Iowa cut the lead in half in the seventh off of Freeman as Dave Sappelt crushed a two-run home run with one out, his fifth of the season.
Memphis tacked on two insurance runs thanks to a couple of fielding errors in the eighth. Albitz scored on a missed catch error during Jackson's at-bat, followed by Swauger coming home on a force out.
Huffman's solo blast in the ninth concluded Memphis scoring on the afternoon.
Five relievers combined to pitch for Memphis on the afternoon. Keith Butler made an emergency start, striking out three over three shutout innings in his first professional start of his five-year career. Michael Blazek (1-2) and Sam Freeman were both charged with two runs. Jorge Rondon gave up one unearned run in 1 2/3 innings before Fernando Salas struck out two over a shutout ninth.
Raley (8-10) was saddled with the loss after failing to escape the third inning, allowing seven runs on seven hits.
The Redbirds continue with the second stop of the club's 13-game, three-city road trip in New Orleans. Right-hander Scott McGregor (5-9, 5.08) will toe the rubber in the series opener for Memphis at Zephyr Field. New Orleans will counter with right-hander Jared Rogers (6-4, 4.88).
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