Cleto outduels Davies in Redbirds win

Kyle Davies went 7 innings, allowing just 4 hits,
striking out nine. (File Photo: Lee Warren)

Memphis starter Maikel Cleto shook off a leadoff home run by Mike Aviles in the bottom of the first inning, flashing an upper-90s fastball and a devastating curveball in a 3-1 Memphis win in front of 8,658 fans Saturday night at Werner Park.

He out-dueled Omaha starter Kyle Davies, who matched the youngster pitch-for-pitch but suffered the loss thanks to a pair of Storm Chasers throwing errors.

Cleto (1-0) fired 7.1 excellent innings in his Triple-A debut – though he previously made two appearances in the big leagues with St. Louis this season. The 22-year-old Dominican allowed just one run on four hits, struck out nine and did not walk a batter. His dominating performance marked another key milestone in his time with the St. Louis organization after being acquired from Seattle for infielder Brendan Ryan in the offseason.

Rehabbing starter Kyle Davies (1-1) was the tough-luck loser for Omaha. He went seven strong innings and also allowed just four hits, struck out nine and did not issue a walk. However, throwing errors by Cody Clark and Johnny Giavotella in the top of the third inning accounted for two Memphis runs, putting the Chasers in a hole they could not crawl out of. Davies has now struck out 21 and walked none in his 20 rehabilitation innings with Triple-A Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Other than the Aviles homer on the second pitch of the bottom of the first, the Storm Chasers had little offensive output on the night. Kila Ka’aihue doubled with two out in the first, Aviles singled and advanced to second on a balk in the third and Cody Clark singled in the eighth, but those were the only baserunners of the night. Memphis pitching did not walk a batter, the second straight game the Chasers have failed to draw a free pass.

Games two-through-four of the series will all be day games, breaking a string of 13-consecutive night games for Omaha. It will also conclude a stretch of 21 games in 20 days for the Storm Chasers players, who will get a much-needed off day Wednesday before hosting Albuquerque beginning Thursday. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 2:05, while Monday and Tuesday will be special 12:05 start times. Jeff Suppan (6-4, 5.11) will go Sunday for Omaha, with P.J. Walters (6-3, 4.55) taking the hill for Memphis.