Freese grand slam, Washington and Haerther homer as Redbirds top Rainiers

Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Won 8-3 today over the Tacoma Rainiers behind seven solid innings pitched by Clayton Mortensen, the wining pitcher, now 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA.

Mortensen allowed 2 runs on five hits, striking out eight.

Matt Clement went one inning, giving up a home run and striking out two.

Matthew Scherer closed with a scoreless inning, striking out one.

The AAA-Redbirds scored all they would need in the first inning on a grand slam by David Freese, his 17th homer of the season.

Rico Washington hit a home run with Nick Stavinoha on base in the third, extending the Redbirds' lead to 6-0.

The Rainiers chipped one off the lead, scoring one in the fourth, but the Redbirds added two in the sixth to run ahead by more at 8-1. Freese scored on a ground out, and the next batter, Cody Haerther, hit a solo home run.

The Rainiers scored one run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, but it was too little, too late, the Redbirds breezing to the five-run win at 8-3.

Redbirds of note:

• David Freese went 2-for-3 with a double and a grand slam.
• Brian Barden went 3-for-5 with a double.
• Nick Stavinoha went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple.
• Rico Washington went 1-for-4 with a home run.
• Josh Phelps went 2-for-4 with a double.
• Cody Haerther went 1-for-3 with a home run.