Cardinals Minor League Notebook: 9/14/17

photo: Patrick Wisdom (Memphis Redbirds)

The Memphis Redbirds took Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League finals over El Paso Wednesday night. Player of the Day Patrick Wisdom plated two runs on doubles.

Results for the game played Wednesday, September 13.

Memphis Redbirds 6, El Paso Chihuahuas 4

Patrick Wisdom (USA TODAY Sports Images)

With the opening game of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series pushed back due to inclement weather on Tuesday, the Memphis Redbirds enjoyed a 6-4 win in the first game on Wednesday over the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Memphis first baseman Patrick Wisdom, our Player of the Day, went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of doubles, two runs batted in, and as many runs scored. Left fielder Nick Martini scored two runs and center fielder Tyler O’Neill belted his fourth home run of the postseason. The Redbirds stranded nine runners on base, but their half-dozen runs were enough — thanks to quality pitching.

Dakota Hudson

Redbirds starter Dakota Hudson logged six innings of two-run ball, striking out five batters along the way. Hudson allowed both runs in the fourth, an inning that ended prematurely for the Chihuahuas: former Cardinals backstop and current Padres farmhand Tony Cruz was picked off second base to end a two-on, two-out threat. Hudson ultimately picked up his second win of the postseason.

In relief of Hudson, Sean Gilmartin pitched a scoreless seventh. Mark Montgomery got into trouble in the eighth, surrendering two El Paso runs and recording just one out to bring the visitors to within two. Closer Josh Lucas increased the tension by allowing a single and walk to load the bases before escaping the jam unscathed. He then worked a quick ninth inning with two strikeouts to pick up the five-out save.

The Redbirds need two more wins to take their first PCL title since 2009. The second game of the Finals will be played 12:05 PM Central time on Thursday at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee. Following Game Two, the two clubs will travel to El Paso, Texas, to wrap up the best-of-five series on Friday through Sunday, as needed.

Kevin Herget will start for the Redbirds on Thursday. Herget pitched well (5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks) in his start against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox earlier this postseason, but he took a tough-luck loss.

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