Saladino Gives Memphis the Blues

MEMPHIS -- After the carnage that Missions infielder Tyler Saladino has left behind against Memphis, Redbirds pitchers will likely spend the rest of the summer waking up with night sweats and visions of Saladino dancing in their heads.
Saladino paced the Missions 7-4 win over Memphis Sunday night at Autozone Park by matching a career high with five RBI, including a tie-breaking three-run homer in the ninth inning, handing San Antonio its seventh straight win over the 'Birds and ninth in 12 meetings this year.
The win moved the Missions (30-20) back into first place by a half game in the American Southern Division, as Round Rock lost its game in Nashville.
With Memphis leading 4-2 in the seventh inning, San Antonio had runners at second and third with two outs. With first base open, Memphis elected to pitch to Saladino, who laced a two-run triple to right-center. That would set the stage for his dramatic ninth inning homerun.
Saladino worked a full count against Redbird reliever Chris Beck in the ninth inning before launching a mammoth 431-foot blast to left field that bounced onto a grassy area outside of the stadium and rolled at least another 100 feet out of sight.
For the season he's now hitting .315-11-41. Saladino has terrorized Memphis by hitting .486-6-21, including six of his 14 doubles and one of his two triples.
Alex Wilson (2-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief.
Michael O'Neill made his San Antonio debut, drawing three walks and notching a single in five plate appearances. O'Neill was called up from Double-A Biloxi to replace Tyrone Taylor, who went on the Injured List with a mild wrist injury.
The two teams play a daytime doubleheader on Memorial Day to make up an April rainout.
NEXT: Thomas Jankins (2-2, 4.50) vs. Daniel Poncedeleon (4-2, 3.48) -- Game One 1:05 PM
Ryan Meisinger (0-4, 3.49) vs. Miguel Sanchez (2-2, 2.70) -- Game Two
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