Seven runs given up through innings five and six was the catalyst for Memphis’ first loss of the series.
The Memphis Redbirds lose to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 9-5 on Thursday afternoon to give them a 20-10 record on the season.
The game was delayed almost three hours due to some issues with the infield clay being saturated with water due to overnight watering.
Tommy Parsons took the mound for the Redbirds when the game finally began, and it unfortunately was not a good one.
In a total of 3 ⅓ innings, the righty gave up three runs, five hits, one walk, and one strikeout to give him 4.40 ERA for the year.
Catcher Iván Herrera single handedly gave the Redbirds the lead with an RBI double in the first and two-run homer in third to give them a 3-2 lead.
The blast in the third was the 22-year-old’s third of the year and the three RBIs on the day gave him 11.
Center fielder Oscar Mercado joined Herrera in the home run column in the third as well with a solo shot for his second of the year and ninth RBI.
Unfortunately, the Redbirds’ 4-2 lead would last a half-inning with Parsons and reliever Grant Black combining to give up five Shrimp runs in the fourth inning.
Black gave up another two runs in the fifth inning to make it six runs charged to him in 1 ⅓ innings, and it ballooned his ERA to 12.19.
The lead was too much for the Redbirds to mount a comeback as they were only able to plate one more run to give them five for the day.
Andrew Suárez and Ryan Loutos were bright spots on the day for the Redbirds’ bullpen, pitching the final 4 ⅓ innings and combining for one hit, one walk, five strikeouts.
James Naile is tabbed to be the starter for Memphis on Friday evening to try and get back in the win column at 7:05 CDT at AutoZone Park.