Mejia squeezes Redbirds closer to PCL title
In an age when tape-measure homers and launch angles seemingly rule the sport, Alex Mejia gave his team a boost with a play from yesteryear. The designated hitter executed a successful squeeze bunt in the 11th inning to lead Memphis past Fresno, 2-1, on Friday night at AutoZone Park. The Redbirds
In an age when tape-measure homers and launch angles seemingly rule the sport, Alex Mejia gave his team a boost with a play from yesteryear.
The designated hitter executed a successful squeeze bunt in the 11th inning to lead Memphis past Fresno, 2-1, on Friday night at AutoZone Park. The Redbirds lead the best-of-5 Pacific Coast League Championship Series, 2-1, and are one win away from their second straight title after a correct hunch by their manager.
"The situation was pretty much a perfect storm for us," Memphis skipper Stubby Clapp said. "We had the right hitter up and the right runner [at third], plus the way the defense was set up. I was willing to take the risk rather than play another inning."
After the teams combined for 25 runs through the first two games of the series, Game 3 featured 13 hits and seven double plays between the two clubs. Collectively, Fresno played a strong game defensively, but its lone error set up Memphis for the win.
Gameday box score
With Tommy Edman on first following his one-out single in the 11th, Grizzlies reliever Brendan McCurry threw away a pickoff attempt to send him to third. Rangel Ravelo was intentionally walked, and Mejia laid down a perfect bunt to give Memphis its third walk-off win this postseason.
While it was the first squeeze for the Redbirds in 147 games this season, Mejia is no stranger to walk-off bunts. The native of Sylmar, California, helped Class A Peoria to a 14-inning win against Kane County with a successful squeeze on May 23, 2013. Mejia had one sacrifice bunt in 322 at-bats this year.
"Ravelo at first and Mejia at the plate is a pretty good double-play combo if he hits it on the ground," Clapp said. "You need to be creative sometimes and find ways to win instead of waiting on home runs or doubles. But my heart can only pump so fast, so I'm glad we got it done there."
• Complete postseason coverage »
The Redbirds broke the ice in the third with consecutive doubles against starter and 12th-ranked Astros prospectRogelio Armenteros by No. 15 Cardinals prospect Edmundo Sosa and Edman.
Fresno wasted a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the fifth but tied the game in the next frame on second-ranked Houston prospect Kyle Tucker's solo homer to right field.
Mejia doubled and singled twice for his fourth multi-hit effort in seven postseason games. The 27-year-old is batting .379/.379/.517 with nine RBIs in the playoffs after compiling a .273/.316/.329 slash line in 108 regular-season contests with the Redbirds. Edman finished 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Cardinals No. 13. Génesis Cabrera, Giovanny Gallegos and Conner Greene (1-0) combined for 5 2/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen. The Redbirds surrendered 14 runs through the first 18 innings of the series.
"It certainly changes the game when the pitching is working," Clapp said. "When you've got guys on the mound controlling things like they were today, you see what happens. Add in defensive help like we saw tonight and that just doubles up on the difficulty of scoring."
No. 3 Astros prospect Yordan Alvarez walked three times for the Grizzlies, who totaled four hits.
Armenteros scattered seven hits and surrendered one run while striking out one in six innings. McCurry (0-1) allowed an unearned run on two hits in 2 1/3 frames.
With one win separating Memphis from a third league title and second in as many years, Clapp had a simple message for his players following the game.
"Just come back ready to play. That's all I've ever asked of my guys."
Game 4 is Saturday at 7:35 p.m. ET at AutoZone Park.
Michael Avallone is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @MavalloneMiLB.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring