Game Preview: July 1 vs. New Orleans
Memphis Redbirds (49–31) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (29–51)
Friday, June 30 • 7:05 p.m. (CT) • AutoZone Park (10,000) • Memphis, Tennessee
Broadcast Information: MiLB.tv | TuneIn Radio | Gameday Play-By-Play
Probable Pitchers: Memphis RHP Zac Gallen (0–1, 5.40) vs New Orleans LHP Chris O’Grady (3–4, 3.14)
Lineups:
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Memphis pounced for four runs in the last of the first and cruised to a 7–1 series-opening win over New Orleans. Rangel Ravelo, Carson Kelly, and Patrick Wisdom all collected multi-hit game with Wisdom blasting his 16th homer of the year in the process.
Josh Zeid, Kevin Herget ,and Ryan Sherriff held the Baby Cakes to just seven hits on the day.
A full recap is available here.
Pregame Listening: Voice of the Redbirds, Steve Selby, caught up with All-Star catcher Carson Kelly earlier this week. You can hear the entire conversation below:
Today’s Game Notes: Click here for full set of notes
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TODAY’S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds continue their eight-game homestand with the first visit of the year from the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins). Memphis has won three straight games while New Orleans has dropped four of its last five and enters with the worst record in the league. Today’s game will be broadcast live on Sports56/87.7 FM and internet webcast at MemphisRedbirds.com, with Steve Selby on the call.
ON THE HILL: Zac Gallen is set to make his second Triple-A start after debuting with the Redbirds on Monday. The 21-year-old showcased his strikeout arsenal with eight punchouts across five innings against Oklahoma City, also allowing three runs on six hits. Gallen enters today’s game with the second-best full-season ERA in the STL system (2.24) and second-most K’s (79). He began the year with A+ Palm Beach and made four starts with AA Springfield.
Chris O’Grady toes the slab for New Orleans in his ninth start (12th appearance of the year). O’Grady has pitched extremely well recently, allowing two earned runs in his last 24 innings across four starts (0.75 ERA). One of those starts came against Memphis, when he allowed two unearned runs on two hits with seven strikeouts in six innings in a no-decision on June 7. He was signed by Miami in early May after spending last five year in the Angels organization.
SCHEDULE WITH NEW ORLEANS: The Redbirds and Baby Cakes meet for their third series of the season, but for the first time at AutoZone Park. Memphis is 7–3 against New Orleans this year, taking four of five to open the season before splitting a four-game set earlier this month. Six of the 10 match-ups thus far have been decided by three runs or less, including three in the last at-bat.
THIS DATE IN REDBIRDS HISTORY (July 1, 2011): C Steven Hill’s 6th inning grand slam led Memphis to a 5–2 win over Oklahoma City at AuotZone Park.
FOR THE RECORD:
- The Redbirds are tied for the best record through 80 games in franchise history (49–31, 2000)
- A win today would be the earliest 50th win by games in franchise history (82, 2000)
- Memphis enjoy its largest division lead since winning the division by 13.5 games on September 4, 2000
- The Redbirds have tied their season-high by being 18 games over .500… The Redbirds have not been this far over .500 since September 6, 2010 (20 games, 82–62)
- Memphis is one of 8 teams in MiLB with 49+ wins
WRAPPING UP JUNE: The Redbirds completed June by going 17–10, increasing their division lead by 7.5 games. It marked the best month of June record-wise for the franchise since 2011 (19–10) and third-best record in the PCL this year. Memphis blasted 31 home runs, its most in any month since August 2014 (36), and most in June since 2008 (37). The Redbirds pitching staff posted a remarkable 3.16 ERA, tied for the second-best monthly mark in the PCL this season (Oklahoma City, 2.93 in April).
NOTHING FOR YOU: The Redbirds pitching staff has turned the corner in the last 32 games, holding the opponent to four runs or less in 23 of those contests. Memphis has held its opponent to three runs or fewer on all five games of this homestand. The Redbirds have yielded only 93 ER in the last 277.0 innings pitched (3.02 ERA) and have moved into second in the PCL in ERA (3.81).
IT’S NOT JUST ERA: Memphis’ pitching staff has been one of the more dominant units in the league over the last two months, culminating in a league-leading 3.16 ERA in June. The Redbirds enter July having allowed the fewest runs (330, 4.1 per game) and hits (669, 8.4 per game) in the loop.
Additionally, Memphis pitchers sit second in strikeouts (671, 8.5 K/9) and earned runs allowed (300, 3.8 per game) and have walked the third-fewest batters (222, 2.8 BB/9)
TWO (OR THREE) OLIVES: Nick Martini collected another base knock last night, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Martini has posted five multi-hit games in his last nine games overall (15-for-36, .417, 3B, HR, 6 R, 9 RBI) and is riding a season-best five-game hitting streak.
After suffering through a 2-for-24 skid from June 7–16, Martini has reached base safely in 10 of 12 games, driving in 12 runs in the process. Since joining the Redbirds on May 6, 15 of his 29 RBI have come with two outs, seven have given the ‘Birds the lead, and three have been game-winning RBI.
CRACKING WISE: Patrick Wisdom connected on his third homer in the last two games yesterday, following his second multi-homer game of the season. He became the second Redbird to accomplish that feat this year (Luke Voit). Overall, Memphis players now have nine multi-homer games this season.
Wisdom now leads the team and the Cardinals organization with 16 home runs this season. He is 4-for-7 in the last two games after snapping an 0-for-14 skid.
