Redbirds Shut Down by Durham Pitching

The Redbirds could only muster three hits against Durham to lose game three of the series.

The Memphis Redbirds lost to the Durham Bulls on Thursday evening by a score of 2-1 to put their record at 17-7 on the season. Tommy Parsons started the game in an abbreviated start since it was his first appearance since April 9th. The 27-year-old righty hardly showed any rust in his two innings of work, giving up only one hit, two walks, and a strikeout. 

The Redbirds’ offense were able to break through and score the first run in the fifth on a solo shot from first baseman Luken Baker. The home run was Baker’s ninth homer and 21st RBI on the year, both team highs, and his two hits brought his team-high batting average to .329.

Baker’s two hits accounted for all but one of the hits given up by Bull’s starter Cooper Criswell who shut down the Redbirds in a strong seven innings. Scheduled starter James Naile would come in relief of Parsons in the third inning, and he gave up both of Durham’s runs in the sixth inning.

Naile was pulled before the end of the sixth, making it 3 ⅓ innings of work, in which he was charged with two runs, five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Kodi Whitley was brought in to finish out the sixth and pitched a total of 1 ⅓ innings with no hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.

Andrew Suárez finished the 1 ⅓ innings left for Memphis and also gave up no hits, walked one, and struck out three.  The Redbirds were unable to even put runners on base in the final two innings to try and sneak a win out from the Bulls and could not make it three wins in a row.

Memphis now will look to shake off the loss and continue their hot string of play at 5:35 CDT at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. Young righty Gordon Graceffo will be on the bump for the Redbirds, and it will be the second game with the Cardinals’ #1 prospect Jordan Walker on the team since he was sent down from St. Louis.