Redbirds Recap: Memphis in the homestretch

Redbirds players garnering recognition, finishing strong as season winds down

Memphis Redbirds Media The Memphis Redbirds (64-67) closed out the home portion of their 2019 season with a win against the Omaha Storm Chasers (55-75) on Sunday at Auto-Zone Park.

Genesis Cabrera sat down 15 consecutive batters to end his final home start of the season. Cabrera also retired nine-straight batters via strikeouts, matching the Pacific Coast League record, which was held by former Redbird Alex Reyes.

The ‘Birds were dominant at home down the stretch after a dismal start to the season, with 13 wins at AutoZone Park in August in 15 games by the Redbirds.

Memphis only won 13 home games in May, June and July combined over 43 games.

The Redbirds concluded their 11-game homestand in the third and final game against the Omaha Storm Chasers in the final home series this season. Genesis Cabrera was dominant on the mound for the ‘Birds, allowing no runs on just one hit while fanning a season-high 12 batters.

At one point during his outing, Cabrera retired nine-straight batters via strikeout, equaling a Pacific Coast League record.

Edmundo Sosa’s home run in the first was more than enough offense for the Redbirds, who have held the Storm Chasers to just one run during this series. Today’s game will be broadcast live on www.

memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

Right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon is scheduled to take the mound in today’s road opener and make his 16th start with the Redbirds and his 26th appearance overall this season across all levels.

Ponce de Leon’s last start came on Tuesday vs.

Round Rock, where he earned the win (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) in the Redbirds’ 5-3 victory over the Express. Ponce de Leon has now won each of his last three starts and 13 of his last 19 decisions overall at the Triple-A level, dating back to May 30, 2018. In his last five starts with the Redbirds spanning 27.0 innings, Ponce de Leon has allowed just 10 hits in 88 at-bats (.114) and he has whiffed 34 batters compared to just 13 walks issued. He has fanned at least eight batters in two of his last three starts. His 11 strikeouts against the Sacramento River Cats on August 9 set a season-high with the Redbirds and it was the most strikeouts by a Redbirds pitcher this season.

The Redbirds have winning records in each of the past four seasons here at AutoZone Park, going a combined 22-10 at this facility during that span.

Genesis Cabrera turned in a masterful pitching performance to set the tone for a 4-0 Memphis Redbirds win over the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) Saturday night at AutoZone Park.

The Redbirds (64-67) have won five-straight games and 13 of their last 15 overall. Memphis has clinched a series win over the Storm Chasers (55-75) and has now won nine of its last 10 series. Memphis has also outscored its opponents 27-3 in its last three games.

Cabrera tied a Pacific Coast League record with nine-straight strikeouts at one point from the middle of the third inning through the start of the sixth inning, and he finished with 12 strikeouts and one hit allowed in 7.0 innings. He ended his outing retiring the final 15 Storm Chasers he faced.

The Redbirds opened the scoring right from the start, as Edmundo Sosa hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Justin Williams singled and scored on a Ramon Urias sacrifice fly in the third, and he homered in the fifth for the fourth Redbird run of the game.

Injury-rehabbing Tyler O’Neill was on base three times with two walks and a single, and Rangel Ravelo was on base four times after drawing three walks and singling in the eighth.

In Sunday night’s game against Omaha, Genesis Cabrera became just the second pitcher in Pacific Coast League history to strikeout nine-straight batters in a game. From the last two outs of the third inning to the first out in the sixth, Cabrera punched-out nine in a row, six swinging and three looking to equal Alex Reyes’ record, set last year on May 23 vs. Oklahoma City. Edmundo Sosa’s home run in the first inning of last night’s contest was the 85th at this facility, breaking the record. The Redbirds have already hit a franchise record 93 home runs on the road this season as well.

Through his first-10 career games at the Triple-A level, Dylan Carlson has continued his torrid form with Double-A Springfield, posting a slash of .487/.545/.846/1.392 to go along with three home runs and seven RBI. He has at least two hits in seven of his last eight starts and has three-hit performances in three of his last five starts.

He has homered in three of his last seven games.

Through his first 10 games at the Triple-A level, Carlson ranks T-1st in the in the Pacific Coast League in hits (19), 2nd in average (.487), 3rd in OBP (.545), 4th in OPS (1.391) and in SLG (.846). At the time of his promotion to Memphis, Carlson led the Texas League with 21 home runs. After falling to a season- low 21 games under .500 following their 11-8 defeat at Round Rock on July 17, the Redbirds have won 26 of their last 34 games and are now three games under .500, their lowest mark since May 25.

The 26 wins are the most by any team in the Pacific Coast League and they are one of only two teams with more than 23 wins during that span. Their turnaround has been backed by stellar pitching, as the Redbirds pitching staff leads the PCL in several different categories. They have also posted four shutouts during that span, one of just two teams in the PCL to have more than two.

Following his return from a brief three-game stint with the St. Louis Cardinals on July 21, Edmundo Sosa has been dominant at the plate for the Redbirds and has played a large part in their late-season turnaround.

In his last 27 games, Sosa has posted a slash of .381/.408/.575/.983 and has hits in 24 of those contests. His average ranks 5th in Pacific Coast League over that time frame. He has four doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI during that span, and has multi-hit performances in 13 games.

He has also raised his batting average from .252 to .287.

After setting the pace with 4.0 no-hit innings on August 4 in Memphis’ 2-0 win over El Paso and a dominant 7.0 two-hit innings on August 9 at Sacramento, Daniel Ponce de Leon dazzled again on August 15 by twirling 7.0 scoreless frames against the Cubs, allowing just two hits and whiffing nine batters. In Tuesday night’s start against Round Rock, he allowed just one run over 6.0 innings. In his last five starts with the Redbirds dating back to June 6 at Tacoma, Ponce de Leon has allowed just 10 hits in his last 27.0 innings with the Redbirds and has whiffed 35 batters during that span.

Memphis Redbirds starting pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for August 5-11, the league announced on August 12.