RedHawks Top Redbirds to Win Series Opener

Oklahoma City jumped out to a big lead early, but had to hold off a late-game push from Memphis.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:19 pm

By: News On 6

RedHawks Top Redbirds to Win Series Opener

Originally Published: Apr 7, 2011 11:9 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The new-look Oklahoma City Redhawks opened up their 2011 campaign with an 8-7 win over the Memphis Redbirds Thursday.

Oklahoma City (1-0) jumped out to an early lead, with Koby Clemens recording the first RBI of the season, driving home J.B. Shuck to take a 1-0 lead. Later in the first, Carlos Corporan hit a sacrifice fly to bring Anderson Hernandez to take a 2-0 lead.

The Redbirds (0-1) answered in the home half of the first with Pete Kozman hitting a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Shane Robinson home to cut the lead in half.

Two innings later with three on base, Oklahoma City’s Drew Locke singled to bring Brian Bogusevic and Clemens home to take a 4-1 advantage. Two at-bats later, Oswald Navarro hit a sacrifice to left field to bring Carlos Corporan home to take a four-run advantage.

In the home half of the fourth, a Shane Robinson double drove in Adron Chambers and Daryl Jones to cut the deficit to 5-3.

However, Oklahoma City would respond with three unanswered runs in the sixth and the seventh innings to take a five-run lead, which proved to be an insurmountable advantage.

Gustavo Chacin (1-0) earned the first win of the season for the Redhawks, allowing just one hit in his one inning pitched. Memphis’ P.J. Walkters (0-1) was credited with the loss for his outing, giving up five earned runs and six hits in his four innings of service.

The season-opening series will continue at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Autozone Park in Memphis, Tenn.