NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Oklahoma City Baseball Club

OKC RedHawks Game Notes

May 21, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release


TONIGHT:

The Oklahoma City RedHawks open an 8-game swing through Las Vegas and Reno with a series opener at Cashman Field against the Las Vegas 51s. Las Vegas is in its first year of affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays. These are the only 4-game series of the year with Las Vegas and Reno, members of the Pacific South Division. Righthander Neftali Feliz gets the start for the RedHawks, while Fabio Castro, a RedHawk for one start in 2006, goes for the 51s. OKC takes to the road after going 6-2 on a homestand that concluded with a doubleheader sweep of Tacoma on Monday. The RedHawks have had 2 days off because of a league-wide day off yesterday and the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship practice day on Tuesday. The RedHawks are 3-7 in series openers, 0-4 in road openers.

MONDAY'S RECAP:

In their most recent action, the RedHawks swept a split doubleheader from Tacoma on Monday 3-0 and 9-1 to earn a split of the 4-game series. They came within one out of a pair of shutouts before an unearned run scored on a 2-out single in the ninth inning of the second game. Prior to Monday, OKC's last doubleheader sweep had been on April 15, 2007, when they blanked Memphis in a conventional twin bill 2-0 and 1-0 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Starters Doug Mathis and Elizardo Ramirez earned the wins for OKC Monday with a combined 11 scoreless innings (Mathis, 6 IP and Ramirez, 5). Brian Gordon earned a save in the first game.

HOME RUN HAPPENINGS:

The RedHawks hit home runs in each end of Monday's doubleheader, ending a stretch of 9 straight games without a home run. OKC is last in the league in home runs with 14, but has allowed the second-fewest (23) behind Memphis' 19. The 51s have surrendered the third-fewest homers with 25. Esteban German and Royce Huffman homered on Monday, joining Kevin Richardson atop OKC's home run list with 2.

ERA DROPS:

OKC allowed 16 earned runs in the Tacoma series, but just 5 in sweeping Portland, lowering the team ERA from 4.52 entering the homestand to today's 4.11, fourth in the PCL.

MISCUES MINOR:

The RedHawks played error-free baseball in 6 of 8 games on the homestand, committing a total of 3 errors. Two of them came in Monday's second game and one was catcher's interference. Prior to the homestand, OKC had been error-free in just 6 of its first 29 games.

MURPHY ARRIVES:

Outfielder Steven Murphy has been promoted from Double-A Frisco to bring the RedHawks' roster to its full complement of 24 players. Murphy has not played above Double-A in his career. This season, he was batting .239 with 5 homers and 21 RBIs in 32 Texas League games.

RARE TRAVEL DAY:

Today is only the second true travel day for the RedHawks in 2009. OKC arrived in Las Vegas by air this morning on its second flight of the season. The other was a return from Nashville for the home opener April 17. Other travel segments have been accomplished by bus.

LEADERS:

Julio Borbon has hit safely in 9 straight and is 15-for-40 (.375) during the streak, which is a team high...Borbon leads the team with 13 multi-hit games...Royce Huffman has a team-best 11 extra-base hits (9 doubles, 2 home runs)...Esteban German has reached base by hit or walk in 10 straight and leads the team with 21 RBIs and 13 stolen bases...Elizardo Ramirez, who made a winning spot start in Monday's nightcap, is tied for fourth in the PCL with a 2.66 ERA.

DOT...DOT...DOT...

Jose Vallejo missed Sunday and Monday's games with strep throat...catcher Kevin Richardson was pressed into duty at third base for the final 5 innings of Monday's first game, his first time ever at the position. His only chance, which was successful, came on the final out of the game on a ground ball.

Check out the Oklahoma City Baseball Club Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...

Pacific Coast League Stories from May 21, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Oklahoma City Baseball Club Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central