The Memphis Redbirds and Michael McKenry’s walk-off home run provided the last laugh in a 7-6 win over the Nashville Sounds Wednesday night at AutoZone Park.
McKenry’s game-winning solo blast with two outs in the bottom of the ninth came just moments after Max Muncy tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth.
With the Sounds (48-39) trailing 6-4, Muncy was summoned as a pinch-hitter for Carson Blair. With Joey Wendle leading from second base, Muncy hit an opposite field shot to even the game at 6-6 with one out in the top of the ninth.
Ryan Brasier, who had pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for the Sounds, came back out for the bottom of the ninth and quickly got back-to-back strikeouts to start the frame. On a 1-1 pitch, McKenry lifted a fly ball to left-center that carried over the wall to give the Redbirds (41-44) a game-winner.
Nashville took control early in the game when Jaycob Brugman belted an opposite field two-run homer off Memphis starter Mike Mayers in the top of the third inning. Brugman’s fourth blast of the season started the scoring in a game that saw multiple ties and lead changes.
It didn’t take long for the Redbirds to come back with runs of their own against Nashville starter Nick Tepesch.
A walk and back-to-back extra base hits by McKenry and Dean Anna knotted the game at 2-2 in the fourth. Memphis built their lead up to 4-2 before the Sounds came charging back in the seventh.
Rangel Ravelo’s RBI double trimmed the deficit to 4-3 and Blair’s infield single leveled the game at 4-4 heading to the eighth inning.
Again, the Redbirds answered with runs of their own. Two more extra base hits and a sacrifice fly off Sounds reliever Angel Castro gave Memphis a 6-4 lead.
It stayed that way until Muncy’s blast in the top of the ninth tied the game.
Brasier was charged with the loss to drop his record to 5-3. Dean Kiekhefer got the win after coming on in the ninth after the home run.
The Sounds return to First Tennessee Park Thursday night when they open a four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs. Right-hander Jesse Hahn (1-4, 3.92) starts for Nashville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
