Tuivailala Preserves Memphis’ 6-4 Win

Tuivailala Preserves Memphis’ 6-4 Win

Redbirds close homestand out tonight at

Autozone Park

Memphis Redbirds MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Sam Tuivailala came on with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the ninth and struck out the side to preserve a 6-4 Memphis Redbirds win over the New Orleans Zephyrs (Triple-A Marlins) Sunday night at AutoZone Park.

The Redbirds (36-40) led 6-3 after six innings, but the Zephyrs (36-39) cut into the lead with a run in the eight and threatened in the ninth against Juan Gonzalez, before Tuivailala came on and fired 15 pitches to dispose of New Orleans and pick up his 12th save of the season.

Memphis has won eight of its last 10 games at AutoZone Park.

Jerome Williams earned the win after battling through 6.0 innings and giving up three runs. He has now won four-straight starts for the first time since Sept. 5-21, 2013, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Carlos Peguero reached base four times with a single, two walks and advancing on a wild pitch after a strikeout. Randal Grichuk was 2-for-4, and Michael McKenry hit his third home run of the season and scored twice. Seven of Memphis’ eight starting position players had a hit in the game.

After falling behind 2-0 after the top of the first, the Redbirds answered back in the home-half when Dean Anna singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a Grichuk base hit and scored on a Peguero knock.

The Redbirds took a 3-2 lead after four innings when McKenry’s blast to left field also scored Peguero, who struck out but reached on a wild pitch.

The Zephyrs answered right back and tied it in the top of the fifth, but Anna walked with two away in the bottom-half and Jeremy Hazelbaker singled him home after a walk pitch to make it 4-3 Redbirds after five innings.

Memphis got some breathing room in the sixth and took a 6-3 lead, thanks to two walks coming around to score and a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly helping the cause.

New Orleans homered off Ryan Sherriff in the top of the eighth and quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth, threatening to take the lead, but Tuivailala came on and worked his magic against the two-, three- and four-hitters to finish the Memphis victory.

Memphis tied a season high by turning three double plays in the game.

The two teams head back to the diamond tomorrow night at 7:05 (CT), and Tuesday’s series finale is King Cotton $1 Hot Dog Night at 7:05. After a fourgame road trip, the Redbirds will be back at AutoZone Park on July 4 to start a seven-game homestand with a holiday edition of postgame fireworks, presented by AutoZone.

For tickets or for more information on the 2016 Redbirds season, contact the Redbirds front office at (901) 721-6000 or visit www.memphisredbirds.co m.

By Michael Schroeder