Sunday, July 4th 6:35 p.m. CT Memphis Redbirds (20-33) vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (29-22) Game 6 of 6 AutoZone Park / Memphis, TN Game #54 of 130 Home Game #30 of 65 LHP Connor Thomas (2-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. LHP Shawn Morimando (2-2, 5.03 ERA) MiLB.tv & First Pitch App: Evan Stockton & Justin Gallanty Last Games – 7/3/21 Bird Bites Memphis vs. Jacksonville ‘21 Last Time Out: A sellout crowd of 10,076 fans at AutoZone Park was treated to one JAX 8 14 1 heck of a show on Saturday night. The Redbirds rallied back from an early deficit to 6 Home (6 Total) down the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Triple-A affiliate, Miami Marlins) by a 9-8 6/30 H – L, 6-4 [10] MEM 9 7 0 final. Memphis trailed 4-1 early, but scored the next seven runs to pull ahead. The fifth inning was the Redbirds’ magnum opus. Memphis roared ahead with five runs 6/30 H – W, 6-3 in the frame, and one big blow brought the house down. Rayder Ascanio launched 7/2 H – L, 6-2 WP: Angel Rondón (1-4) a no-doubt grand slam with the score tied at four, bringing the huge crowd to its feet and giving the ‘Birds a lead they would never give up. 7/2 H – L, 7-2 - 5.2 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Memphis Starter: Connor Thomas makes his seventh appearance and fifth start 7/3 H – W, 9-8 LP: Eric Stout (0-2) with the Redbirds this season. The lefthander has impressed so far with Memphis, 7/4 H – recording a 3.38 ERA in 29.1 IP (11 earned runs) with 26 strikeouts and 12 walks. He - 4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K started the first game of the series on Tuesday night, working five innings of one-run SV: Zack Thompson (2) ball with two walks and five strikeouts. His prior start, at Toledo on Wednesday, was a stellar showing. Thomas went 5.2 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just five hits while striking out seven. The Georgia native began the season with Springfield (Double-A), posting an ERA of 4.87 in 20.1 IP with 24 strikeouts and three walks. Notables: Thomas was originally drafted in the 5th Round of the 2019 Draft out of Georgia Tech. Jacksonville Starter: Shawn Morimando toes the slab for the Jumbo Shrimp -A. Sánchez: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R tonight. The 28-year-old has started eight times for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate this season, recording a 5.03 ERA in 39.1 IP (22 earned runs) with 38 strikeouts and 18 -R. Ascanio: 1-3, HR, 4 RBI, BB, walks. He started the series opener on Tuesday night, allowing 10 hits but just one run with two walks and four strikeouts. Morimando was originally drafted by R Cleveland in the 2011 Draft, making two appearances with the Indians during the Affiliates Roundup 2016 season. The Virginia Beach native also has made one relief appearance with Miami this season. St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) Headed to the Mile High City: Matthew Liberatore and Nolan Gorman were -Last Game: L, 3-2 @ Colorado named to the Sirius XM Futures’ Game roster earlier this week. Those two ‘Birds will -Record: 41-43 be competing at Coors Field in Colorado on July 11 against the premier prospects in -Next Game: 2:10 p.m. CT @ professional baseball. Colorado Active Hit Streaks Going for the Gold: Brandon Dickson has been named to the United States Springfield Cardinals (AA) Rayder Ascanio – 6 (6/20-pres.) National Team that will be competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo later this month. After pitching eight seasons in Japan, Dickson will return to the Land of the -Last Game: W, 5-4 vs. NW Arkansas Ali Sánchez – 6 (6/23-pres.) Rising Sun with Team USA. The Olympic baseball tournament begins in July 27. -Record: 17-36 Lane Thomas – 5 (6/27-pres.) -Today: 6:05 p.m. CT vs. NWA Pitcher of the Month: Matthew Liberatore has been named the Cardinals’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June. The 21-year-old went 3-1 with a. 3.42 ERA in Peoria Chiefs (High-A) four starts during the month and posted a WHIP of 1.01. Liberatore also made two -Last Night: W, 8-1 vs. West Michigan starts with Team USA, helping the team win the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Stat of the Day -Record: 21-32 Welcome to the Future: Nolan Gorman, a consensus top-three prospect in the -Today: 5:35 p.m. CT vs. West Cardinals’ system, was promoted to Memphis from Springfield on Monday afternoon. Michigan The Redbirds drew their largest crowd th The 19 overall pick in the 2018 Draft was starring at the Double-A level, of the season on Saturday night, as a slashing .288/.354/.508 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 43 games. The Arizona Palm Beach Cardinals (Low-A) sellout crowd of 10,076 fans packed native helped rally the Redbirds to victory on Wednesday night, smacking a game- -Last Night: W, 7-6 vs. Dunedin AutoZone Park. Memphis last held a tying single in the bottom of the eighth. -Record: 21-32 game on the Fourth of July in 2018, Big Series for Rayder: Rayder Ascanio has had his way with Jacksonville -Today: 5:00 p.m. CT vs. Dunedin when 10,776 fans attended the game pitching so far this week. In his three starts, Ascanio is 5-11 with two home runs, six against the Omaha Storm Chasers. RBI and four runs. Ascanio is currently in the midst of a season-high six game hitting streak. His grand slam in the 5th inning of Saturday night’s game put the Redbirds in front for good. Upcoming Probables (all times CT) 7/06 @ Louisville Bats 6:00 p.m. TBD vs. TBD 7/07 @ Louisville Bats 6:00 p.m. TBD vs. TBD 7/09 @ Louisville Bats 6:00 p.m. TBD vs. TBD 7/10 @ Louisville Bats 6:00 p.m. TBD vs. TBD LHP Connor Thomas (2-2, 4.23 ERA) 5’11” 173 lbs B/T: L/L Age: 23 (05/29) Acquired: 5th Rd, 2019 Draft (Georgia Tech) 2021 Game-by-Game Thomas Notes Date Opp. Dec. IP H ER BB K P/S Depart. Notes - Native of Tifton, Georgia. 5/6 v. WCH ND 5.0 5 0 1 5 66/44 Lead, 1-0 5/12 @ ARK L 5.1 5 4 0 7 85/59 Down, 4-2 - Picked in the 5th Round out of Georgia Tech in the 2019 Draft. 5/18 v. NWA ND 6.0 6 1 2 4 87/62 Tied, 1-1 5/18 v. NWA L 4.0 10 6 2 4 88/53 Down, 6-5 - Four total starts with Springfield AAA debut on 23rd (AA) this season. Posted an 0-2 record 5/29 @ GWN W 5.0 2 2 5 4 86/48 Lead, 5-2 birthday with a 4.87 ERA in 20.1 IP. 26 hits 6/4 v. TOL ND 6.2 9 4 1 4 93/64 Down, 4-3 First AAA start allowed, 3 walks, 24 strikeouts, and Redbirds rallied to five home runs. 6/11 v. GWN ND 3.2 6 3 2 2 80/47 Down, 3-1 win 4-3 6/17 @ IND ND 3.1 2 1 1 4 54/36 Tied, 1-1 Pitched in relief - Made 15 appearances in 2019 between State College (Short-Season) Retired nine of 6/23 @ TOL W 5.2 5 0 1 7 94/59 Up, 2-0 final 11 batters and Peoria (Low-A). Posted a 4-1 Lone run allowed record with a 3.77 ERA in 43.0 IP. 6/29 v. JAX ND 5.0 7 1 2 5 92/65 Tied, 1-1 was in Top of 1st Also 36 strikeouts and 10 walks. - Pitched three total seasons at Georgia Season Bests Tech. IP: 6.2 H: 2 (2x) - Went 7-4 with a 3.34 ERA in 97 IP as K: 7 a Sophomore. Named First Team All- BB: 0 ACC. ER: 0 - Improved as a Junior, posting a 9-2 HR: 0 (4x) record with a 3.11 ERA in 113 IP. Pitches: 93 Once again named First Team-All ACC. Miscellaneous w/MEM - Full name is Sidney Connor Thomas, WHIP: 1.47 but he goes by Connor. Enjoys playing Record when used: 4-2 golf and the guitar. Started playing BAA: .274 baseball at the age of five. Redbirds Hitters Rayder Ascanio 5’11 155 INF Age: 25 (3/17) Acq.: Trade w/ SEA, Aug, 30, 2017 Conner Capel 6’1 185 OF Age: 23 (5/19) Acq.: Trade with CLE, 7/31/18 Last Game: 7/3 vs. JAX (1-3, HR, 4 RBI, BB, R) Last Game: 7/2 vs. JAX (0-1) Current Series: 5-11, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, BB, K (3 games) Current Series: 1-7, RBI, K (4 games) Season Highs… Season Highs… H: 2 (4x) R: 2 (3x) BB: 2 (6/20 @ IND) H: 3 (5/18 v. LOU) R: 3 (2x, last: 6/13 v. GWN) BB: 2 (2x, last: 6/27 @ TOL) HR: 1 (5x) RBI: 4 (7/4 v. JAX) K: 2 (3x) HR: 1 (3x) RBI: 2 (3x) K: 3 (2x) 2019 Notes 2019 Notes • Split the season between the Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A) and the • Spent the season primarily with Springfield (AA), slashing .232/.283/.352 Springfield Cardinals (AA).