Dodgers Edged in Memphis For Seventh Loss in Nine Games

Memphis scored six unanswered runs over the middle innings and then held off a late charge by the Dodgers in the ninth inning to hang on for a 7-6 win.

Tuesday, July 28th 2015, 11:39 pm

By: News 9


The Memphis Redbirds scored six unanswered runs over the middle innings and then held off a late charge by the Oklahoma City Dodgers in the ninth inning to hang on for a 7-6 win Tuesday night at AutoZone Park.

With the loss, the Dodgers (62-40) have dropped seven of their last nine games. The win was the seventh in the last nine for the Redbirds (55-49).

Both teams plated a run in the second inning. The Dodgers took the lead in the top half of the inning, when Andy Wilkins led off and drilled a solo home run to straight away center field to make it 1-0.

In the home half of the inning, Ed Easley led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Dean Anna then sent a RBI single up the middle to tie the game.

The Dodgers regained the lead in the top of the third. With a runner on base, Corey Seager hit a home run past the OKC bullpen in right-center field, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

Memphis got back within one run in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single by Nick Martini.

The Redbirds plated three runs, all with two outs, in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Greg Garcia tied the game with a RBI single. With runners at first and second, the Redbirds executed a double steal, and a throwing error by OKC catcher Ralph Henriquez allowed the go-ahead to run score. Xavier Scruggs finished the rally with a RBI single.

Entering the game, OKC starting pitcher Eric Surkamp had held his opponents 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position and two outs. The Redbirds were able to buck that trend Tuesday, going 3-for-3 in such situations. 

Memphis added sacrifice flies by Cody Stanley and Scruggs and the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to make it 7-3.

Entering the ninth inning, the Dodgers had been held scoreless over the previous five frames and were limited to three hits, with just one runner reaching scoring position. However, the offense would come alive in the ninth, scoring three times. OKC collected four straight hits with one out, including a RBI double by Chris Heisey and a RBI single by Darnell Sweeney.

With runners at the corners and one out, Darwin Barney’s RBI groundout brought the Dodgers within one run and moved the tying run into scoring position with two outs. The rally would end up falling a bit a short, as Sam Tuivailala struck out Seager to end the game.

Tuivailala remained perfect in save opportunities, picking up his 13th save in as many chances.

Memphis starting pitcher Zach Petrick overcame some early struggles and ended up tossing six innings to earn the win. Petrick (6-5) allowed three runs and six hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Surkamp (4-3) wound up with a loss for the first time since June 1 – a span of eight starts. He surrendered six runs (four earned) and nine hits over 5.1 innings. The lefty walked two and struck out four.

The Dodgers will quickly be back in action against the Redbirds starting at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday. 

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