Baby Cakes take second straight from Redbirds

Eric Campbell had a go-ahead three-run double in the fifth inning to back a quality start from Trevor Richards as the New Orleans Baby Cakes won their second straight from the Memphis Redbirds, 6-3 on Friday night.

Richards allowed five hits through his first five outs of the game and the Redbirds grabbed a first-inning lead on a double play grounder, but the New Orleans right-hander held Memphis without a hit over his final four innings and retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

The Baby Cakes were hitless through three innings against Sean Gilmartin before coming alive in the fourth. Singles by Magneuris Sierra and Campbell led off the inning, and Jon Rodriguez followed with a double down the left field line to score Sierra, though Campbell was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on the play.

An inning later, Gilmartin walked the bases loaded with two outs to set the table for Campbell, whose fly ball short hopped the wall in right field for a double to plate all three runners and give the ‘Cakes a lead they would not relinquish.

Rangel Ravelo homered over the center field fence off Jacob Turner in the eighth to bring the Redbirds within a run, but Sierra led off the bottom of the frame with his first home run of the season, and Austin Nola later added an RBI single to boost the Baby Cakes’ advantage back to 6-3.

Tyler Kinley made quick work of the Redbirds in the ninth by throwing seven pitches, all strikes, to earn his first save.

Richards (3-2) turned in the sixth quality start in as many Triple-A outings and lowered his ERA to 2.06, fifth-best in the Pacific Coast League since joining the ‘Cakes on May 1.

Gilmartin (3-2) was charged with four runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.

The ‘Cakes and Redbirds continue the series on Saturday at 6 p.m.