RedHawks Build Big Lead, Survive Scare In Memphis

The Oklahoma City RedHawks tied a season high with 12 runs, notched their highest hit total in two years, and saw an 11-run lead cut down to one before defeating the Memphis Redbirds, 12-10, Friday night at AutoZone Park.

The RedHawks (27-22) tallied 22 hits, their most in game since May 17, 2012 at Reno. Eight players finished with a multi-hit game, led by Ronny Torreyes' 5-for-5 night. Robbie Grossman, Jon Singleton, and Adron Chambers each collected three hits.

Up 11-0 in the seventh inning, the RedHawks almost let the seemingly insurmountable lead slip away. The Redbirds scored twice in the seventh inning before exploding for eight runs in the eighth to pull within 11-10.

Memphis (23-25) notched seven hits in the inning, including a three-run homer with two outs by Oscar Taveras to make it a one-run game.

The RedHawks got some breathing room in the top of the ninth. Austin Wates drew a leadoff walk and stole second and third base. With two outs, Chambers drove him home with a RBI single.

In his first game off the disabled list, Wates went 2-for-4 and reached base four times. He also stole three bases, recording his third three-steal game of the season.

RedHawks reliever Jason Stoffel retired the side in order during a no-frills ninth inning to preserve the win. It was the first time Oklahoma City won a game in which the opposition scored at least 10 runs since beating Albuquerque, 13-10, on June 2, 2013.

The RedHawks wasted no time getting on the board at the start of the night. On the second pitch of the game, Grossman crushed a home run to left field for his second leadoff homer of the season. Chambers added a RBI double with two outs later in the inning, making it 2-0.

The RedHawks scored twice more in the second inning when Singleton knocked a two-run single.

Another pair scored in the fourth. Max Stassi's RBI single pushed the lead to 5-0, and Wates would later score on a double play for the sixth run of the night.

The RedHawks weren't close to being finished, scoring four times with two outs in the sixth inning. Jonathan Meyer brought home the first two with a bases-loaded single. A wild pitch scored another, and Torreyes plated the 10th run of the night with his fourth hit of the game.

All five of Torreyes' hits were singles. It's the first five-hit game by a RedHawk this season, and each of the past three five-hit games by a RedHawk have occurred at AutoZone Park. Grossman and Jake Elmore both did it in 2013.

For Torreyes, it was his second career five-hit game and his first since going 5-for-5 on July 21, 2011 while playing for the Low-A Dayton Dragons against the Peoria Chiefs.

Domingo Santana connected on his seventh home run of the season in the seventh—a solo shot out to right field to give the RedHawks an 11-0 advantage.

RedHawks starting pitcher David Martinez kept the Redbirds quiet for most of the night, throwing six scoreless innings. He scattered three hits with two walks and five strikeouts as he collected his team-leading fifth win. Martinez (5-2) also improved to 3-0 in three starts against Memphis this season.

Tim Cooney picked up the loss after getting knocked around over four innings. Cooney (4-4) allowed six runs and a season-high 12 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

The RedHawks continue their series in Memphis Saturday night at 6:05 p.m.