Redbirds Zack Cox Homers In Loss

MEMPHIS, TN – Omaha slugged Memphis 6-4 Saturday night at AutoZone Park belting four home runs en route to victory.

The Cubs wasted no time scoring in the first inning with a home run by Steve Clevenger to right field. Redbird Zack Cox answered back in the second inning with a shot to right field to tie up the score. The long ball came into play in the fourth with Brett Jackson crushing a solo homer to dead center field. Memphis took their only lead of the game in the fifth as Jamie Romak’s base hit and an error by Iowa left fielder Ty Wright drove in three Redbirds runs for a 4-2 lead.

Iowa tied it up for a second time in the sixth with a triple by Jackson, who headed home himself on Wright’s single to the shortstop. Anthony Rizzo’s dinger in the eighth gave the Cubs the lead and Josh Vitters four bagger in the ninth tacked on an insurance run.

Ryan Rowland-Smith earned the win for the Cubs with two scoreless innings of relief while fanning two while former Redbirds Mike MacDougal nailed down his first save shutting down the ‘Birds in the ninth. Sam Freeman took the loss for the Redbirds, giving up the winning run in his one inning of work. Memphis starter Shelby Miller allowed three runs, two home runs, on seven hits over 5.1 innings while striking out three.