Redbirds top Cubs as Reyes dominates in return from injury

REDBIRDS 5, CUBS 1

Arturo Reyes retired the final 13 batters he faced in his first start after missing 31 games because of injury, and Anthony Garcia and David Washington homered to power a 5-1 Redbirds win over the Iowa Cubs on Sunday night at AutoZone Park.

The win was the eighth straight at home for Memphis (49-51).

Reyes (6-4) gave up one run on three hits in five innings, and he struck out four and walked none. Thomas Lee relieved Reyes and retired the first four he faced, meaning the Redbirds set down 17 Cubs in a row from the end of the first through the start of the seventh.

Iowa (43-59) scored in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, the Redbirds scored on Garcia’s home run, his first in Triple-A since May 25.

Former Bartlett and University of Memphis standout Jacob Wilson walked with one out in the fourth, moved to third on a Matt Williams double and scored on Reyes’ single through a drawn-in infield to make it 3-1.

In the seventh, Charlie Tilson singled to start the inning and scored on Washington’s 23rd home run between Memphis and Double-A Springfield, which leads the Cardinals organization. Josh Lucas walked the first batter he faced in the ninth but got a pop out and a double play to end the game.

Efren Navarro was 2 for 4 with a run scored, and he has hit in eight straight games for Memphis. Garcia finished with three hits.