‘Cakes edge Redbirds to move above .500

The New Orleans Baby Cakes used a three-run third inning and seven solid frames from Jeff Brigham to defeat the Memphis Redbirds, 4-2 on Wednesday night.

The ‘Cakes have won 14 of their last 17 games to inch above the .500 mark for the first time since May 22. New Orleans has clinched a fifth consecutive series win for the first time since 2014.

Houma native Justin Williams gave the Redbirds a quick 2-0 lead with a first-inning homer, his third in 17 games since joining Memphis. But that was all Brigham allowed, as the right-hander settled in to toss six straight scoreless frames and surrendered only one hit over the final three innings.

Brigham (5-1) scattered seven hits, struck out six and did not issue a walk in notching the sixth quality start in his last eight outings. Jose Quijada retired the Redbirds in order in the eighth, then walked the leadoff man in the ninth as the ‘Cakes turned to Jumbo Diaz.

Diaz set down all three batters he faced, with Peter O’Brien securing the final out on a sinking liner by Edmundo Sosa, to record his 12th save.

The ‘Cakes answered the Williams homer with a run in the bottom of the first when Braxton Lee drew a leadoff walk and scored on a Chris Bostick double.

Peter O’Brien stretched his hitting streak to 10 games with a game-tying RBI double in the third, and came around to score on a single by Tomas Telis to put New Orleans in front. Chris Diaz followed with a single to boost the advantage to two.

Jake Woodford (4-4) took the loss, allowing four runs and six hits with four walks in five innings.

The Baby Cakes and Redbirds wrap up the three-game set on Thursday at 7 p.m.