Game Preview: June 30 vs. New Orleans
Memphis Chicks (48–31) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (29–50)
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 Josh Zeid (4–2, 5.94) vs New Orleans RHP William Cuevas (1–0, 0.00)
Lineups:
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Patrick Wisdom blasted a pair of home runs, including a game-breaking three-run shot in the fifth to send Memphis to an 8–2 win over Oklahoma City, securing a series split. Wisdom was 2-for-4 on the day with four RBI, his third game this year with 4+ RBI.
Marco Gonzales authored seven quality innings on the hill, limiting the Dodgers to two runs on three hits.
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
TODAY’S GAME: The Memphis Chicks continue their eight-game homestand with the first visit of the year from the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins). Memphis won the last two games of its series against Oklahoma City to salvage a series split while New Orleans dropped three of four to Iowa 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.
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ON THE HILL: Memphis hands the ball to Josh Zeid in the series opener. Zeid is making his 11th start of the season (17th overall appearance), but first since June 13 against Colorado Springs. The righthander has pitched out of the bullpen in his last three outings, most recently firing two scoreless frames against Oklahoma City on Monday. Zeid has squared off with New Orleans twice so far this year, allowing eight runs in 10 innings during two no-decisions.
William Cuevas starts for the Baby Cakes this evening. The righthander began the years with the Tigers organization, appearing in four games (two starts) with Triple-A Toledo before making one appearance with Detroit (4 R in 0.1 IP). He was designated for assignment on May 27 and signed by Miami on June 5. In three appearances (two starts) since joining New Orleans, Cuevas has yet to allow a run over 10.2 IP. During that time he has struck out 12 and walked only 4.
SCHEDULE WITH NEW ORLEANS: The Chicks and Baby Cakes meet for their third series of the season, but for the first time at AutoZone Park. Memphis is 6–3 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 nine match-ups thus far have been decided by three runs or less, including three in the last at-bat.
THIS DATE IN CHICKS HISTORY (June 30, 2011): 1B Nick Stavinoha hit his 58th home run as a Redbird, a solo shot in the 8th inning off of Oklahoma City RHP Fernando Rodriguez, to become the team’s career home run leader. Stavinoha completed his career in Memphis with a total of 74 home runs from 2007–11.
FOR THE RECORD:
- The Chicks are one game behind the best record through 79 games in franchise history (49–30, 2000)
- The Chicks enjoy their largest division lead since winning the division by 13.5 games on September 4, 2000
- A win tonight would tie a season-high 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 9 teams in MiLB with 48+ wins
NOTHING FOR YOU: The Chicks pitching staff has turned the corner in the last 31 games, holding the opponent to four runs or less in 22 of those contests. Memphis held Oklahoma City to three runs or fewer in all four games of the recent series. The Chicks have yielded only 92 ER in the last 268.0 innings pitched (3.09 ERA) and have moved into second in the PCL in ERA (3.87).
CHANGE IN CULTURE: Memphis finds itself with the third-best record in the league, a half-game out of first place, thanks to winning in a variety of ways. After leading the league in homers in April (29), the ‘Birds now sit t-8th in blasts in June (30). Meanwhile, the pitching staff, which ranked 10th in the league in ERA in April (4.54), rose to second in May (3.84) and is the league’s best in June (3.24).
IT’S NOT JUST ERA: After a slow month of April relatively, Memphis’ pitching staff has been one of the more dominant units in the league. The Chicks sit second in the circuit in strikeouts (664, 8.5 K/9), and have allowed the second fewest runs (329, 4.2 per game) and earned runs (299, 3.8 per game).
Additionally, Memphis pitchers have walked the third-fewest batters (221, 2.8 BB/9) and allowed the third-fewest hits (662, 8.4 per game) in the loop.
SALVAGING THE SPLIT: Yesterday’s victory continued an incredible trend for Memphis when it comes to series records. The Chicks have now won or split 16 consecutive series (8–0–8) since losing three of four at Colorado Springs from April 18–21.
Outside of that series and dropping two of three in the previous set to Oklahoma City from April 15–17, Memphis is 9–0–9 in series this year. For reference, last year’s team won eight series the entire season, finishing with an 8–13–14 series record.
TWO (OR THREE) OLIVES: Nick Martini collected another multi-hit game last night, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Martini has now posted five multi-hit games in his last eight games overall (14-for-33, .424, 3B, HR, 5 R, 8 RBI).
After suffering through a 2-for-24 skid from June 7–16, Martini has reached base safely in nine of 10 games, driving in 11 runs in the process. Since joining the Chicks on May 6, 15 of his 28 RBI have come with two outs, seven have given Memphis the lead, and three have proved to be the game-winning RBI.
CRACKING WISE: Patrick Wisdom connected on his second multi-homer game of the season yesterday, becoming the second Chick 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 15 home runs this season. The blasts also helped snap an 0-for-14 skid Wisdom faced entering yesterday’s game.
