The Redbirds (40+) came up short in a hard-fought contest against the Tigers on Wednesday night, falling 5-2 at The Parks at Texas Star. Despite a strong middle-inning rally and some quality swings at the plate, the Redbirds couldn’t overcome a late Tigers surge that proved to be the difference.
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the board, plating a run in the top of the first after Brent Smerczynski induced Brian Kellner into a fielder’s choice that allowed a runner to cross the plate. After three innings of tight, scoreless baseball, the Redbirds answered in the bottom of the fourth. Mark Tierney ripped a double into the gap, and Chris Cec followed with a sharp single to bring him home, tying the game at 1-1.
But just as momentum appeared to swing toward the Redbirds, the Tigers came roaring back in the top of the fifth. Nick Bird delivered the biggest blow of the night with a two-run double, followed immediately by another RBI single from Kellner to stretch the lead to 5-2. That proved to be all the cushion Tigers starter Brandon Palomo needed. The right-hander tossed five innings, giving up just two runs on six hits while striking out four to earn the win.
For the Redbirds, Cec took the loss in relief, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in three innings of work. Smerczynski got the start and went three solid innings, surrendering just one run on three hits. The Redbirds collected seven hits in total, with Jerry Gamez, Kevin Fought, Jason New, Lester Bedford, Tierney, and Cec each notching base knocks. Tierney drove in one of the team’s two runs and reached base with a double to spark the offense. Cec followed with a timely RBI single to round out the scoring.
While the Redbirds turned in a clean defensive effort with a double play and smart situational play, they ultimately couldn’t generate enough offense to catch the Tigers, who finished the night with nine hits and a well-executed game plan.
Player of the Game honors go to Mark Tierney, whose double and run scored in the fourth provided the early jolt the Redbirds needed and stood out as a key offensive highlight in an otherwise quiet night at the plate.
The Redbirds (40+) will look to regroup next Wednesday when they welcome the Tigers once again, eager to settle the score.
