Baseball fans in Memphis had a night to remember at AutoZone Park as 10,058 spectators – a sellout crowd – watched their Redbirds snag a narrow victory over the Iowa Cubs. In a report by WREG News, the fans not only witnessed a 2-1 win but were also treated to a show of stars from both Memphis Football and Basketball, who greeted and mingled with the crowd in a meet and greet event.
Enhancing the fervor of the game, as Local Memphis noted, were Memphis Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan and guard PJ Haggerty, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Together with more than 15 athletes from the university's teams, they signed autographs, engaging the fans even before and during the game – a partnership spearheaded by FedEx and the Redbirds.
On the field, right-handed pitcher Ian Bedell led the Redbirds from the mound, delivering a standout performance with 7.2 innings pitched, his longest in Triple-A so far. Bedell’s resilience allowed him to strike out five and surrender only one run on a solo home run in the first inning, anchoring the team's defense, as described by WREG News. Relief pitchers Ryan Loutos and MLB Rehabber Riley O’Brien sealed the deal, combining for the final four outs, with it being O’Brien's first Redbirds appearance on a MLB Rehab Assignment.
Joseph Fermin stepped up offensively, as reported by Local Memphis, hitting 3-for-3 including a double, and scoring a run alongside driving in an RBI. Bringing the win home, second baseman Thomas Saggese secured the critical run with his clinching two-out single in the third inning in a nail-biting, rally-inspired effort.
After the sun set on a successful night of baseball and community spirit, captured by Rachel Phillips on X, the Redbirds and their fans looked forward to the series' conclusion against the Cubs, with the anticipation of another sellout and the potential of continuing the winning momentum. The final game of this homestand was marked on the calendar for July 21, with the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. CDT, promising another exciting afternoon of baseball at AutoZone Park.
#WATCH - A sellout crowd of 10,058 fans packed into AutoZone Park on Saturday night to watch the Memphis Redbirds beat the Iowa Cubs 2-1, enjoy a post-game fireworks show and meet some of the biggest Memphis Football and Basketball stars.https://t.co/hALZYu9NXO
— Rachel Phillips (@rachphillipstv) July 21, 2024
