Memphis Redbirds finish off a slow week with loss

The Memphis Redbirds scored once in the bottom of the ninth Saturday, but it was not enough as the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A club fell to Round Rock 5-4.

The loss capped a disappointing 2-4 week for Memphis that saw decent pitching, but lackluster performances from the offense.

It started on Sunday with a 3-2 loss to the Iowa Cubs. Tim Cooney turned in a masterful game, pitching eight innings, giving up four hits and two runs – striking out six.

However the Redbirds eventually lost that game on a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the ninth. The big story out of Des Moines that day was Tommy Pham‘s first start after his injury. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI in the game.

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Another close loss came on Monday. Zach Petrick turned in a great performance, pitching seven innings and only giving up two hits and one unearned run.

However, once again, Iowa rallied late, this time scoring twice in the eighth to take the contest, 2-1.

The only great performance of the week came on Tuesday when the Redbirds were 11-3 victors.

Pham went 2-for-4 in the game with three runs and five RBI. Greg Garcia also had a 2-for-4 performance, Xavier Scruggs went 2-for-3 and Rafael Ortega put together a 2-for-2 day at the dish.

The Memphis Redbirds kicked off a four-game series with the Round Rock Express on Thursday with the Redbirds taking the opener by a score of 3-2.

John Gast pitched six solid innings giving up six hits and only one run with four strikeouts. Jacob Wilson hit his fifth homer of the season in the game. Dean Anna also turned in a 2-for-3 performance with a run scored.

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Friday was an all-around disappointing night for the Redbirds, as Cooney allowed four runs in six innings of work in a 4-2 loss. Scruggs hit his ninth home run of the season. Stephen Piscotty turned in a 2-for-4 performance.

In the aforementioned loss to Round Rock Saturday, Dan Johnson went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBI. Scruggs went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Petrick got the loss, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs in five innings of work.

Memphis will battle the Express in the final game of the four-game series on Sunday night. As of Saturday night, starting pitchers for either club had not yet been announced.

A new face will be seen soon in the Redbirds rotation with the recent promotion of Tyler Lyons to St. Louis. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals top Kansas City behind Mark Reynolds