Memphis Redbirds Start 5-0, Jordan's Walk-Off HBP Tops Norfolk in 10

A hit batsman rarely makes for the most glamorous walk-off in baseball, but Blaze Jordan's plate appearance in the bottom of the 10th inning Tuesday at AutoZone Park delivered exactly what Memphis needed. With the bases loaded, the third baseman absorbed a pitch that forced home the winning run, giving the Redbirds a 4-3 victory over the Norfolk Tides and the best start to a season in franchise history at 5-0.

The decisive moment would not have been possible without Jimmy Crooks. Memphis' designated hitter was the offensive backbone of the night, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances and finishing 4-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBIs. His biggest contribution came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when he deposited a solo home run to tie the game at three and send it to extras. Crooks, ranked No. 8 in the Cardinals system by MLB Pipeline, has now reached base safely in six consecutive plate appearances to open the season, with two home runs and five RBIs across that stretch.

Shortstop César Prieto added a three-hit performance to keep the lineup humming. Prieto entered the game having already contributed a home run and a double earlier in the homestand, and his continued production gave Norfolk's pitching staff no room to breathe against the middle of the Memphis order.

On the mound, starter Quinn Mathews worked 3.2 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits while walking four and striking out five. The left-hander escaped trouble repeatedly before giving way to a bullpen that proved to be the game's steadying force. Max Rajcic was particularly sharp, punching out five batters across 2.1 scoreless innings to bridge the gap into the late innings. Nick Raquet, who finished 1-0 on the night, closed out the ninth and held Norfolk off the board again in the 10th, setting the stage for Jordan's walk-off.

Five games into the 2026 season, the Redbirds have shown the kind of complementary baseball that makes early-season records mean something. The offense has combined patience and power, the rotation has limited damage even when control wavered, and the bullpen has protected leads in the moments that matter. Memphis returns to AutoZone Park to continue its six-game series with Norfolk, looking to extend a franchise-best run that already has national prospect watchers paying close attention.