RedHawks Outslugged by Redbirds

Originally Published: Apr 27, 2010 2:43 PM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A costly sixth inning gave the Memphis Redbirds more than enough firepower to take down the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 9-5. The Redbirds saved themselves from a four-game series sweep on the road.

Six Memphis players chipped in with an RBI to help balance out the offense provided by Chris Davis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia – who combined to go 3-for-12 with a home run and four RBI.

The third inning packed punch for both clubs.

Memphis jumped on the board with two runs in the top of the frame. A single by Daniel Descalso scored Matt Pagnozzi and Shane Robinson.

But Oklahoma City bounced back with a vengeance in the bottom of the inning.

Andy Jenkins tripled to lead off the inning. A would-be sacrifice fly by Hernan Iribarren was dropped by right fielder Mark Shorey, leading to a run and another runner at third.

Chad Tracy followed with a walk, setting up the recently-demoted first baseman Davis for an RBI-single, scoring Iribarren and tying the score. Saltalamacchia, on a rehab assignment, capped a seven-pitch at-bat by cranking a three-run home run.

Four of the five RedHawks runs were unearned against starter Brandon Dickson (1-0), who breezed through the rest of his outing, going seven innings and recording eight strikeouts.

Oklahoma City ran into trouble when Willie Eyre entered in relief in the top of the sixth.

In just two-thirds of an inning, Eyre (0-1) allowed 6 runs – 2 earned – on six hits and a walk. By the time Clay Rapada came in to shut the door, the Redbirds led 8-5 and wouldn’t look back.

In the top of the seventh, Shorey came in to score on a double play by Donovan Solano, ending the scoring for the day at 9-5.

Both Oneli Perez of Memphis and Jailen Peguero pitched a pair of scoreless innings to finish the game for their respective teams.

The RedHawks squeaked by in the first game of the series, winning 8-7, but demolished the Redbirds the following two times out, winning the games by a combined score of 20-4.