Rockin' and Rollin'
Tannehill does it all as Strummers open division lead to 9
Sept. 7, 2009
LAS VEGAS -- There is little more that Jesse Tannehill could have done in last night's finale of Memphis' four-game set in Las Vegas.
Complete game? Check. Pitch effectively? Check. Hit a homer? Check.
Against a Las Vegas lineup that indicates the Bosses consider themselves out of the playoff race even if others consider them a longshot with a shot, Tannehill went the distance, scattering 8 hits over 9 innings, and contributed a solo shot in the 6th to lead Memphis to an 8-1 win. The victory gave Memphis 3-of-4 in the series and, more importantly, extended their lead over the New Orleans Knights to nine games.
Memphis skipper Harry Wright was thrilled with Tannehill's performance. "Jess had one tough month, and other than that he's been amazing," Wright said of his ace, who is 8-2 with a 1.90 ERA over his last 12 starts.
"I had it all going tonight," Tannehill said afterward. "Including my bat."
The sixth-inning homer was Tannehill's second of the season, and added insurance to a game that had stayed 3-0 since Memphis hit two shots in the first: a solo shot by Deacon White (.325-13-82) and a two-run shot by Ryan Braun (.263-16-67).
Tannehill's was the second half of back-to-backers with second baseman Ben Zobrist, who hit his first homer in his second big league game. Bobby Wallace (.263-10.69) also homered for Memphis.