RedHawks Spilt Doubleheader At Memphis To Open 2013 Season

The Oklahoma City RedHawks kicked off the 2013 season by splitting a double-header against the Memphis Cardinals.

In the first game, Memphis used an eight-run fifth inning to blow out the RedHawks 9-0.

The Cardinals scored a run in the bottom of the first inning when Brock Peterson singled to score Kolten Wong. Peterson was thrown out trying to advance to second after OKC leftfielder Trevor Crowe tried to throw Wong out at the plate.

In the fifth, the Cardinals exploded for eight runs on five hits and four walks. OKC needed three pitches to get through the inning, which saw 12 Memphis batters come to the plate. Wong hit a two-RBI single and David Freese, 2011 World Series hero for the St. Louis Cardinals, followed Wong with a two-RBI ground-rule double. Chad Huffman ended the inning with a bases-clearing double to left field.

The RedHawks had opportunities, putting at least one runner on base in every inning. However, OKC was never able to manufacture any runs.

The second game was quite a bit different, as the RedHawks held off a late Memphis rally to win, 8-7

OKC got the scoring started in the top of the first as Robbie Grossman scored the RedHawks first run of the season on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Laird.

Memphis rallied in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on a single from Jermaine Curtis.

The RedHawks opened things up in the third and fourth innings, scoring four runs in the third and three more in the fourth.

In the third, two runs scored on a ground out and a fielding error. Laird brought home the other two runs with a two-run homer to center. In the fourth, Robbie Grossman knocked an RBI single and two more runs scored on a Trevor Crowe groundout and a Laird sacrifice fly.

After a Memphis run in the bottom of the fourth, the score remained 8-3 in favor of OKC until the bottom of the seventh when the Cardinals staged a last-ditch rally. Kolten Wong doubled to score Adron Chambers and Brock Peterson singled to score Wong. With runners on second and third, J.R. Towles singled to bring home both runners and cut the deficit to one run. However, with runners on first and second, Jermaine Curtis flied out to Crowe to end the game.