Redbirds Top Omaha Behind Dominant Poncedeleon

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The first-place Memphis Redbirds (54-34) got back in the win column topping the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) Friday night at AutoZone Park, 4-2.
Omaha scored the first run of the ballgame in the second inning, which was unearned due to an error. After that, Memphis starter Daniel Poncedeleon shutdown the Storm Chasers. Poncedeleon retired 12 of the next 14 batters he faced, including seven-straight batters after the run scored. He allowed two baserunners after the second inning, both walks. 
Poncedeleon is now 8-3 on the year with a 2.39 ERA after allowing two hits, and three walks tonight, while striking out seven batters. The eight wins, just halfway through the season, are already the second-most in his career. He won nine games with Springfield in 2016.
In the second, Carson Kelly led off with a single and moved to third on Randy Arozarena's double. Kelly scored on Max Schrock's groundout, and Arozarena later scored on a single from Wilfredo Tovar. 
The 'Birds scored another run in the third before rounding off the scoring on Adolis García's 10th home run of the season in the sixth inning. Kelly (2-for-4), Garcia (3-for-4), and Tovar (2-for-4) all finished the night with multiple hits. Oscar Mercado stole his 22nd base of the season in the win, tying him with Mark Little and Adron Chambers for fifth-most in a season in Redbirds history. 
Matt Bowman and Tyler Lyons each threw a scoreless inning of relief after Poncedeleon exited. Andrew Morales earned his second save of the season, allowing one run in the ninth inning. 
The Redbirds and Storm Chasers continue their series tomorrow night at 6:35. For more information on single-game tickets and ticket mini-memberships, visit www.memphisredbirds.com.

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