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RedHawks vs. Zephyrs - Game Notes - July 11, 2013

July 11, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release


Today's Game: The RedHawks return home to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark to begin their final series before the All-Star Break. They'll open a five-game set against the New Orleans Zephyrs at 7:05 p.m. The teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow due to a rainout in New Orleans during their previous series.

Last Game: Five RedHawks pitchers combined to throw a two-hit shutout while the RedHawks offense belted three home runs Wednesday in a 7-0 win against Round Rock at Dell Diamond. Oklahoma City starter Brad Peacock (5-2) tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk in the win. He struck out four and retired the final 14 Express hitters he faced. Jason Stoffel, Kevin Chapman, Josh Zeid and Alex Sogard also pitched for the RedHawks, and the quintet of OKC pitchers retired 23 of the final 24 batters of the game while holding the Express hitless after the second inning. George Springer hit a two-run homer to center field to put the RedHawks in front 2-0 in the third. It stayed that way until Oklahoma City added five runs in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, courtesy of home runs by Robbie Grossman and Brandon Laird.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Jake Buchanan makes his third start with the RedHawks since being promoted from Double-A Corpus Christi...In his last outing July 5 in New Orleans, Buchanan turned in a quality start, allowing three runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out a career-high nine batters and did not allow a walk, but he was charged with the loss as the RedHawks were shutout, 4-0...Through his first two starts with OKC, Buchanan has allowed five runs over 11 innings, holding PCL opponents to a .214 average. He has yet to allow a walk, and for the season Buchanan has walked just nine hitters over 93.0 IP (0.87 BB per 9 inn.) and posted a 6.1 strikeout-to-walk ratio...Buchanan spent the first half of the season with Double-A Corpus Christi. He went 7-2 with one save and had a Texas League-leading 2.09 ERA in 18 games (13 starts). He ranked first in the league in WHIP (0.93), fourth in average (.226) and fifth in innings (82.0)...Through 15 games this season, his ERA was just 0.80, and he did not allow an earned run between April 30-May 30 (32.2 IP)...His combined 2.32 ERA and 93.0 IP are both second-best among Astros minor leaguers.

Against the Zephyrs: 2013: 7-4 2012: 8-8 All-time: 128-116 In NEW: 59-56

The RedHawks played a weather-shortened three-game series last weekend in New Orleans, July 4-6. The RedHawks won two of three before Sunday's finale was rained out...The Zephyrs scored at least four runs in each of the last two games against the RedHawks after being held to three or less in seven of the first nine games. In five of their meetings, the Zephyrs have scored one or no runs...Oklahoma City has outscored New Orleans, 46-33, this season and the RedHawks pitching staff has a combined 2.90 ERA and limited the Zephyrs to a .215 average...Oklahoma City won the first series of the season between the teams in Bricktown, 3-1, April 25-28. The first game this year was a 15-inning, 4-four, 54-minute marathon on April 25 in Oklahoma City. The Zephyrs won, 10-8...The Zephyrs homered 27 times against Oklahoma City last season and have gone deep nine times in 11 games this year...New Orleans catcher Kyle Skipworth has seven RBI in his past six games against OKC.

Cosart's Commencement; Paredes Returns: After last night's game, the Houston Astros announced they have recalled RedHawks pitcher and 2013 PCL All-Star Jarred Cosart, who will make his Major League debut Friday night at Tampa Bay. Cosart was 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA was in the PCL's top five in ERA, batting average against, strikeouts, and walks. In order to make room on the roster, the Astros optioned Jimmy Paredes to Oklahoma City. In 41 games with the RedHawks, Paredes is batting .340 with five homers and 22 RBI. This season against New Orleans, Paredes is 9-for-18 with five walks and just one strikeout. In an additional roster move, Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell completed his rehab assignment with the RedHawks. He went 1-for-10 over the three games in Round Rock.

The Donut Factory: Last night, for the second time in three games, the RedHawks pitched a shutout. They now have five shutouts this season, matching their 2012 total. The RedHawks have held their opponents scoreless in 28 of the past 31 innings, including 13 straight entering tonight. During this recent run, the bullpen has surrendered just two runs over 11.1 IP.

By George: George Springer hit another home run last night, giving him three in the last two games, and five over his last four games. He has now catapulted into a tie for second overall in the Minors with 26 homers, trailing only Ryan Rua of Low-A Hickory, who has 28. Springer has also swiped 28 bases and is in striking distance of becoming the first player in the Minors to go 30/30 since Grant Desme in 2009. He is currently on a season-best 13-game hitting streak, batting .455 (20x44) with seven home runs and 17 RBI. Since the streak began on June 28, he leads the PCL in all three major offensive categories and has hit the most homers in all of the Minors. He is responsible for six of OKC's last nine home runs.

Hip Hip, Jose: Jose Martinez is currently on a 10-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games. During the streak he is batting .341 (14x41) with four multi-hit games.

Grossman Goes Yard: Robbie Grossman's ninth-inning home run last night was his first dinger of the year. It was also his first homer since Aug. 24, 2012 while playing for Corpus Christi against Midland, ending a streak of 344 homer-less at bats between the Hooks, RedHawks, and Astros.

Sosa More Than So-So: Ruben Sosa is 8-for-17 over his past six games and has hit safely in each of his past four starts.

Men of Steal: Oklahoma City leads the PCL with 122 stolen bases this season after Ruben Sosa added another to the team total Wednesday. Albuquerque ranks second in the league with 106 swipes. Jonathan Villar paces the team with 30 stolen bases.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Friday, July 12 4:30 p.m. vs. New Orleans TBA TBA

Game 2 vs. New Orleans TBA TBA

Saturday, July 13 7:05 p.m. vs. New Orleans RHP Asher Wojciechowski (5-4, 3.06) RHP Tom Koehler (0-2, 2.74)

Sunday, July 14 6:05 p.m. vs. New Orleans LHP Wade LeBlanc (0-1, 11.25) RHP Doug Mathis (4-7, 3.87)

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