The game between the Memphis Redbirds and the Sacramento River Cats was definitely a back-and-forth affair on Friday with the Redbirds coming out the victor, winning their fifth-straight game, 8-6.
After the River Cats scored again in the bottom of the seventh, Memphis answered back when Jacob Wilson notched his second run-scoring single of the night, tying things at 5-5 in the top of the eighth. In the top of the ninth, the Redbirds gave themselves some breathing room, hanging a three-spot on the board.
A Dan Johnson RBI single, a Stephen Piscotty sac fly and a Greg Garcia run-scoring double accounted for the three runs – which proved to be helpful as Sam Tuivailala came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth, giving up a home run. Despite the long-ball, he picked up his fourth save of the season.
Tim Cooney took the ball to start things out for the Redbirds, pitching five innings while giving up four hits, four earned runs, two walks and striking out seven. Marcus Hatley received the win in the game, pitching the eighth inning and giving up two hits and a walk.
The scoring started early in the game, when Dean Anna reached on an error by the River Cats’ right fielder, before advancing to third on a throwing error on the play. Dan Johnson later drove him in with a sacrifice fly. That lead was short-lived as Cooney surrendered a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to make the score 2-1 Sacramento.
The next run for Sacramento was an avoidable one. In the third, Cooney threw a pickoff attempt wide of first, which allowed the Sacramento runner to reach second. He later came around to score on RBI single by Travis Ishikawa to make it 3-1 Sacramento.
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The Redbirds answered back in the top of the fourth with two back-to-back RBI singles by Jacob Wilson and Rafael Ortega to make the score 3-3. Again, the lead would be short-lived when Cooney allowed a home run to the opposing pitcher in the bottom on the fifth. Memphis came right back in the sixth when Xavier Scruggs hit his seventh home run.
The Redbirds will seek their sixth-straight win and their 20th win of the season tonight in game three of four against the River Cats. John Gast will be the starter for Memphis while Austin Fleet will be the starting pitcher for the River Cats. First pitch is set for 9:05 CT.