Baby Cakes squander five-run lead, fall in extras

METAIRIE – The Memphis Redbirds erased a 5-0 deficit and defeated the New Orleans Baby Cakes, 6-5 in 10 innings on Saturday night.

New Orleans scored five times in the third inning, capitalizing on a pair of Redbirds errors and four walks. Tomas Telis broke the ice with a fielder’s choice grounder, and Austin Nola drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. A wild pitch by Memphis starter Ryan Helsley allowed a run to score, and a throwing error by third baseman Ramon Urias made it 4-0. Cito Culver then reached on an infield single to drive in the fifth run, the eighth time this season the ‘Cakes plated at least five in a frame.

A leadoff home run by Adolis Garcia in the fourth got Memphis on the board, and was the first run allowed by Zac Gallen in five starts at home this season, ending a streak of 29 shutout innings.

Gallen worked around four walks and four hits and struck out eight in his six innings to finish with his seventh quality start, but the ‘Cakes bullpen could not hold the lead.

Mike Kickham allowed three runs in the seventh, all coming with two outs. Tyler O’Neill delivered a two-run single, and an error by Cristhian Adames extended the inning for Andrew Knizner, who singled to right to score O’Neill and bring the Redbirds within a run.

Another error, this time by Kickham on a pickoff attempt, put a runner in scoring position in the eighth and the Redbirds took advantage on a two-out RBI double by Patrick Wisdom to knot the score.

Memphis used a bunt and a sacrifice fly to cash in its baserunner in the top of the 10th inning against Jumbo Diaz (3-5), and the ‘Cakes were quickly retired in order in the bottom of the frame by Edward Mujica (3-2), who was credited with the victory.

New Orleans finished 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base, while Memphis went 3-for-18 and stranded 14 baserunners.

The teams play the rubber match of the five-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.