One night after leaving runners everywhere and falling a run short, the Memphis Redbirds turned AutoZone Park into a launching pad.
Facing elimination in Game 2 of the International League Championship Series, the Cardinals’ Triple-A club pounded the Rochester Red Wings 15-4 on Wednesday and evened the best-of-three set at one game apiece. It was Memphis’ first postseason victory since 2018, when the Redbirds won the Triple-A title against Durham.
The difference was simple and brutal. In Tuesday’s 4-3 loss, Memphis went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10. On Wednesday the Redbirds went 10-for-18 with RISP and scored all 15 of their runs in a three-inning burst, including a nine-run third.
Catcher Jimmy Crooks set the tone. He launched a three-run homer in the second and added a two-run single in the third, finishing with two hits and five RBIs. Across the first two games of the series he has reached base in seven of nine plate appearances. Left-hander Mason Molina did the rest on the mound, allowing one hit over five innings with six strikeouts. Rochester starter Isaac Lyon was gone before the third inning ended after surrendering eight runs, five earned. The Red Wings did not score until the eighth, already trailing 15-0.
The win sends the series to a decisive Game 3 tonight at AutoZone Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CT. Neither club had announced a starter as of Thursday morning. The winner advances to the Triple-A National Championship Game on Saturday in Las Vegas against the Pacific Coast League champion.
Memphis earned the home series by winning the International League first half with a 47-28 mark, the club’s first IL title of any kind since moving into the league in 2021. The Redbirds finished the full season 83-67, second in the league and matching their 2018 win total. Rochester, the Nationals’ affiliate, took the second half and posted the IL’s best overall record at 90-58. The Red Wings had not won a playoff game since 2013 before Tuesday night.
Game 1 belonged to Rochester shortstop Seaver King, who had three hits including a go-ahead solo homer, and a bullpen that closed the door after Memphis loaded the bases late. Kyle Nicolas struck out Bligh Madris to end it. Memphis had homers from Crooks and Zach Levenson but could not cash in the rest of its traffic.
Rochester manager Matt LeCroy said after Wednesday’s rout that his club had already flushed the loss. That is the only option in a one-game season. Memphis manager Ben Johnson, in his first postseason with the franchise, will try to bottle Wednesday’s contact and two-strike execution while asking his staff to match Molina’s efficiency.
The Redbirds have the crowd, the last-at-bat advantage, and a lineup that just proved it can punish mistakes. Rochester has the better full-season record and the memory of closing Game 1 with 100 mph heat. One night decides who flies to Las Vegas and who goes home.
Tickets remain available for tonight’s winner-take-all game at AutoZone Park. Playoff baseball is back in Memphis. One more win would send it west.
