Four-run fourth sparks Express past Memphis
Round Rock has Redbirds’ number
EXPRESS 5, REDBIRDS 4
Hard reality with a dash of hope was the tale of yet another loss by the Memphis Redbirds to the Round Rock Express 5-4 on Sunday before 3,392 at AutoZone Park.
Another big inning, and lots of little mistakes and missed opportunities, led to the fifth loss in six games by the cellar-dwelling Redbirds (6-11) against the PCL American South Division-leading Express (11-6).
After breezing through his first three innings, Memphis starter Zach Petrick (0-3) gave up four runs in the fourth. Single runs came in on doubles by shortstop Thomas Field and first baseman Kyle Blanks (4-for-5, two doubles). Then designated hitter Brett Nicholas, who came in hitting .067, lunged at a 1-2 pitch down in the zone and hit a two-run single to make it 4-1.
“I missed my spots on a couple of pitches, and they made me pay,” Petrick said. “The one big inning has been the problem, but all you can do is work to get your focus back.”
After a walk and one of three Memphis errors led to another run in the fifth, Round Rock loaded the bases in the sixth, but Petrick slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts. Tyler Waldron and Dean Kiekhefer added three scoreless innings in relief.
“In the end Zach got through six innings, and limited the damage after the big inning. That’s a plus,” said Redbirds manager Mike Shildt, who has gotten only three quality starts from his staff. “We’ve got things we need to do better, but I believe in the ability of this group to get better.”
The Redbirds, hitting an anemic .233 this season, had just three hits and struck out eight times against Round Rock starter Anthony Ranaudo (2-0) and relievers Phil Klein and David Martinez. Klein, who started the year with the Texas Rangers, struck out five in his two innings.
But in the ninth, Xavier Scruggs, who played right field Sunday, drew a walk. Second baseman Greg Garcia hit his second single of the day, and with one out, center fielder Rafael Ortega turned on a 1-1 fastball by Martinez for his first homer of the year, making it 5-4.
“I’m trying to get my confidence back. We’re all trying to do too much because we’re trying to get our confidence back,” said Ortega, who came in hitting .205. “I’ve been swinging late on a lot of pitches.”
Redbirds hitting coach Mark Budaska said Ortega, a veteran free agent pickup, “has lots of skills and has power. He just has to use his hands more and this (pointing to his head) a little less.”
The Express brought on closer Jon Edwards, and Mike O’Neill laced his second hit of the game into right-center. But he was caught trying to stretch it into a double, and Dean Anna flied out as Edwards earned his fifth save in five chances.
“It was the right play. I wanted to get in scoring position to give our hottest hitter a chance to drive me in,” said O’Neill, who earlier in the game didn’t break from second on a wild pitch by Ranaudo, and left Anna caught between first and second. “That first play was on me. I didn’t see how far the ball had gotten away from the catcher.
The Redbirds had another runner caught stealing and are 4-for-16 in steal attempts this season. Catcher Ed Easley drove in the first Memphis run with a single in the third, tried to take second after the throw home and was thrown out by catcher Tomas Telis. The Redbirds loaded the bases without a hit in the fifth, but Ranaudo escaped by getting Easley to fly out.
“The offense has to pick it up and give our pitchers more runs to work with,” Easley said.
And when asked if he looks forward to the six-week break between games with Round Rock after the current series is over Tuesday, O’Neill said, “You want to play the better teams. I can’t wait for the chance tomorrow.”