Redbirds Use Three-Homer Inning to Win Sixth Straight

Three home runs in the seventh inning plated six runs, now the Redbirds come back home to see how long this streak can last. The Memphis Redbirds win the series finale 7-4 to finish the sweep of the Gwinnett Stripers Sunday afternoon and push their record to 10-5.

Young right-hander Gordon Graceffo was on the bump for Memphis and gutted through a shaky performance.

The 23-year-old almost made it through three innings in which he gave up two runs (one earned), one hit, five walks, and four strikeouts.

Grant Black came in relief of Graceffo and gave two solid innings of work with no runs, only one hit, three walks, and a strikeout.

The Redbirds went into the sixth inning trailing 2-0, and the offense that has been there all series finally came to life.

It began with designated hitter Juniel Querecuto continuing his great series with a three-run bomb to give the Redbirds the lead. 

It was his first home run of the season and would double in a run the next inning for a four-RBI night to bring his season total to 11.

Two batters later, shortstop Paul DeJong would blast a two-run homer over the wall to give him his first homer with the Redbirds and now seven RBIs.

First baseman Luken Baker came to the plate to make back-to-back homers and give the Redbirds a 6-2 lead.

It was already Baker’s fourth home run of the season and 11th RBI of the season, tying him and Querecuto for team lead.

Kyle Leahy came in to pitch for Memphis after Black and struggled through 2 ⅔ innings in which he gave up two runs, seven hits, a walk, and a strikeout.

The left the final out of the eighth and the whole ninth inning to lefty JoJo Romero.

The 26-year-old made easy work with all four outs coming on strikes and smothered any idea of a Stripers’ rally giving up only one hit and no walks.

With that sweep, the Redbirds now have loads of momentum to begin their homestand against the Indianapolis Indians.

Memphis will look to take game one of the series at 6:45 CDT at AutoZone Park.