MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Redbirds finished off a six-game homestand with a 4-3 walk-off win over the Louisville Bats (Triple-A, Cincinnati Reds) on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Memphis catcher Leo Bernal drew a four-pitch walk to win the game. Sunday’s win marked the second Redbirds walk-off victory of the season and joined Blaze Jordan’s walk-off hit-by-pitch on April 1 against the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A, Baltimore Orioles). Bernal finished the win 0-for-4 with two RBIs and a runner caught stealing defensively.
Right fielder Joshua Báez led the Memphis offense with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. The right-handed hitter added a double and run scored in the win. MLB Rehabbing center fielder Nathan Church smacked his first hit of the MLB Rehab Assignment at a clutch moment. The left-handed hitter smacked a game-tying solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Church finished the game 1-for-5 with the home run.
Opener Tink Hence worked a scoreless top of the first inning and struck out one in his second appearance in the opener role in the series. Right-handed pitcher Brandt Thompson followed with 4.0-plus innings of three-run, five-hit baseball and struck out five. Hancel Rincón (1-4) worked a scoreless 1.1 to earn his first career Triple-A victory.
The win kept Memphis a half-game behind the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, Washington Nationals) for first place in the International League first half standings and in a tie for second place with the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A, Milwaukee Brewers).
The Memphis Redbirds return to AutoZone Park on Tuesday, June 16 to begin a six-game series against the Nashville Sounds to close out the first half of the 2026 season with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.
About the Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the proud Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Since their affiliation with St. Louis began in 1998, the Redbirds have claimed four League Championships and one Triple-A National Championship. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the Redbirds play their home games at AutoZone Park, one of the premier ballparks in the nation. Alongside their parent company, Diamond Baseball Holdings, the Redbirds are committed to providing an exceptional baseball experience for fans of all ages, featuring top Cardinals prospects, exciting promotions, and a family-friendly atmosphere. With a tradition of excellence both on and off the field, the Memphis Redbirds actively contribute to the community by hosting a wide variety of events at AutoZone Park and participating in numerous charitable initiatives. For more information, visit www.memphisredbirds.com.
Contact
Memphis Redbirds Communications Team, (901) 721-6000 or communications@memphisredbirds.com