The Memphis Redbirds advanced to the Pacific Coast League playoffs for the second straight year after rallying from a 6-3 deficit to defeat the Iowa Cubs 7-6 on Monday.
The Redbirds’ Mark Hamilton slammed a ninth inning home run over the center field wall to give Memphis the win. The victory tied the Redbirds with the Cubs atop the PCL American North division, with both teams finishing with a league best 82-62 record.
By virtue of the PCL’s tiebreaker format, Memphis advanced to the playoffs based on the second tiebreaker – better record in the division. The first tiebreaker, head-to-head against the Cubs, was tied 8-8.
Iowa had the tying run on third base in the ninth before Josh Kinney earned his 17th save of the year. Hamilton led the Redbirds with three extra-base hits while Allen Craig and Daniel Descalso added two hits each. Jason Dubois hit two solo home runs to lead Iowa.
Reliever Adam Reifer earned the win in his Redbirds debut turning in a scoreless inning. Iowa’s Hung-Wen Chen took the loss after allowing Hamilton’s home run in two innings of work. Memphis starter Evan MacLane allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits over five innings.
The Redbirds will begin the defense of their 2009 PCL championship on Wednesday night when they face American South division winner Oklahoma City at AutoZone Park in a best of five series.
Memphis will host the Red Hawks Wednesday and Thursday night before traveling to Oklahoma City.
