The Redbirds Sweep Gwinnett to Kick off the 2026 Season

 
The Cardinal Chronicle
The Monday Farm Report
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

 
Redbirds Sweep Gwinnett to Kick off the Season

The Memphis Redbirds opened the 2026 season the right way—by finishing what they started.

A 6–5 win over Gwinnett on Sunday completed a three-game sweep, and while the margin was narrow, the approach was anything but.

This was a game won the old-fashioned way—timely hitting, situational execution, and just enough pitching to hold the line.

 
Prieto Delivers When It Counts

César Prieto was at the center of it all. The third baseman collected two hits and delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon—a game-tying home run in the eighth inning that brought Memphis back from a one-run deficit.

Earlier in the game, Prieto helped build momentum with a second-inning rally that pushed the Redbirds out to an early lead.

When the game tightened late, he didn’t try to do too much—he just delivered.

 
Winning Baseball in the Ninth

The deciding run didn’t come on a highlight swing—it came on execution.

With the game on the line in the ninth, catcher Leo Bernal put the ball in play and drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout. It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what the moment required.

That’s the kind of baseball that wins games over a long season.

 
Lineup Shows Depth

Memphis didn’t rely on one bat—they came at Gwinnett from all angles.

Colton Ledbetter, Joshua Báez, and Prieto each recorded two hits, while Matt Koperniak, Báez, Bernal, and Prieto all drove in runs.

No empty at-bats. No waiting for one guy to carry the load.

That’s how you grind out wins.

 
Mautz Impresses in Triple-A Debut

Left-hander Brycen Mautz gave Memphis exactly what it needed at the start.

In his Triple-A debut, Mautz worked five innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out six. He showed poise, command, and the ability to miss bats—an encouraging combination for a pitcher making the jump.

 
Shuster Still Finding His Way

Jared Shuster made his Memphis debut out of the bullpen, and the results were mixed.

He struck out four over three innings but allowed four runs on five hits. The stuff showed flashes, but the consistency wasn’t there yet.

For now, he remains a work in progress.

 
Blewett Closes It Out

Scott Blewett handled the ninth inning and did what closers are asked to do—finish it.

He worked around a baserunner and secured the win, locking down the Redbirds’ first sweep of the season.

 
On Deck: Home Opener in Memphis

The Redbirds return home Tuesday night to open their 2026 home schedule at AutoZone Park against the Norfolk Tides.

A sweep on the road is a strong start.

Now comes the next step—bringing that momentum home.

 
The Cardinal Chronicle
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future