DES MOINES, Iowa – The Memphis Redbirds continued a six-game series and 12-game road trip with a 3-2 walk-off loss to the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A, Chicago Cubs) on Wednesday night at Principal Park.
Memphis entered the top of the ninth inning with a 2-0 hole. Right fielder Nelson Velázquez drove in the first Redbirds run with a sacrifice fly. One batter later, first baseman Bligh Madris smacked a single to tie the game. Center fielder Joshua Báez led the offense with a 3-for-4 effort with a double.
Starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins tossed 7.0 innings of two-run baseball, worked around three hits, walked none and struck out five. The outing marked the right-handed pitcher’s first quality start of the season and first outing of 6.0 innings or more. Cade Winquest worked a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his return from the injured list.
With the loss, Memphis dropped to a 0.5-game lead over the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A, Milwaukee Brewers) for first place in the International League standings. The Redbirds have spent every day of the 2026 season in at least a tie for first place.
The Memphis Redbirds return to AutoZone Park on Tuesday, June 2 to begin a six-game series against the Louisville Bats (Triple-A, Cincinnati Reds) 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