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RedHawks Game Notes: May 9, 2013

May 9, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) - Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (20-12) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (21-13)

Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners

Games #33 of 144/Home #19 of 72 (12-6)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Asher Wojciechowski (0-0, 2.25) vs. TAC-RHP Blake Beavan (0-1, 9.00)

Thursday, May 9, 2013 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7:05 p.m. CT

Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio - Randy Renner

Today's Game: The RedHawks will attempt to stretch its current home win streak into double digits when they face the Tacoma Rainiers tonight at 7:05 p.m. In a series featuring the teams with the best records in their respective conferences, the RedHawks have taken each of the first two games.

Last Game: The RedHawks pulled off a stunning six-run comeback in the ninth inning and the scored the winning run on an error with two outs in the 10th inning to defeat the Rainiers, 7-6. Through the first eight innings, the RedHawks had not scored and notched just three hits, all singles. After Tacoma reliever Bobby LaFromboise retired the first two hitters of the ninth inning, the RedHawks had four straight men reach base and pulled within 6-2. Jonathan Villar then drilled a grand slam to center field on the first pitch of his at-bat to tie the game. With runners at second and third and two out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Andy Simunic sent a ground ball to Tacoma shortstop Nick Franklin. Franklin's throw to first base was off-line, allowing both Simunic to reach safely and Brandon Laird to score the winning run. Tacoma's Nate Tenbrink had a banner day in the loss, going 4-for-4 with a double and three-run homer.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Asher Wojciechowski makes his second start since getting promoted to the RedHawks...In his Triple-A debut a week ago today, Wojciechowksi pitched four effective innings against the Nashville Sounds. Wojciechowski allowed one run and three hits and held Nashville 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. He struck out five with one walk and left the game after four innings since he was pitching on three days' rest...Wojciechowski got off to a great start this season with Double-A Corpus Christi, going 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA over six games. He also began the year with 20 consecutive scoreless innings, a streak that extended to 33.2 innings dating back to last season...At the time of his promotion, Wojciechowski ranked eighth in the Texas League in ERA, fifth in batting average (.188), and fifth in WHIP (0.92)...Last week he was named Corpus Christi April Pitcher of the Month by the Astros.

Against the Rainiers: 2013: 2-0 2012: 1-3 All-time: 38-39 In OKC: 23-15

The RedHawks and Rainiers have now gone to extra innings at least once in each of their past three series...The Rainiers won last year's series, 3-1...Tacoma won the third game of the series with a walk-off home run from Nick Franklin in the bottom of the 11th inning (4-3)...Each team totaled 35 hits apiece during the 2012 series...During their previous series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2011, the teams split a four-game set with the RedHawks winning the first two games...OKC last won more than two games in a season against the Rainiers in 2005 when they swept the season series, 4-0.

Running With the Pac: The RedHawks are in the midst of a stretch of 16-straight games against Pacific Conference foes, going 2-0 so far. Last season the RedHawks went 14-17 against the other side of the league, including an 8-7 mark at home.

Bricktown Magic: Yesterday was the second time in the last 10 home games the RedHawks scored at least five runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. On April 25 they trailed New Orleans 6-1 in the ninth inning before rallying to tie. They also erased a two-run deficit later in that same game in the 13th inning, but eventually fell 10-8 in 15 innings. That was also the last time the RedHawks lost in Oklahoma City, as they have now won nine-straight home games. During the win streak, the RedHawks have had two come-from-behind wins in which they trailed by six runs. On April 29, Nashville led 7-1 in the second inning, but the RedHawks ended up winning 9-8. A win tonight would mark only the third home winning streak of at least 10 games in the 16-year history of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Captain Clutch: Jonathan Villar's game-tying grand slam yesterday marked the third time already this season he has tied a game when the RedHawks were down to their final at-bat. In the game against New Orleans mentioned above, Villar notched a two-out RBI single in the ninth and a two-run single in the 13th.

Villar, Volume II: Villar's grand slam was the third of his career and his first since June 4, 2012 while playing for Corpus Christi in a game at Springfield. He is hitting .393 (35x89) over his last 22 games. After getting off to a 2-for-34 start, Villar has been one of the best hitters in the league. Since April 15, he has more hits (35) than anyone else in the PCL and has the second-most hits in all of the Minors.

Elmore Scaling the Rainiers: Yesterday was the first time in 13 career games against Tacoma Jake Elmore failed to hit safely. Between this series and last year while playing for Reno, Elmore has been a nuisance for the Rainiers, hitting .404 (21x52) with 18 RBI.

Home Hurlers: During the team's current nine-game home win streak, the pitching staff has posted a 2.73 ERA (24 ER/79 IP). They

have allowed two or less runs six times and allowed more than three runs just twice.

Swipe Out: OKC leads the league with 47 stolen bases, including 26 in the last 11 games. They have stolen at least one base in 11 consecutive games. Trevor Crowe (11) and Jonathan Villar (10) both rank in the top five in the league.

Worth the Wates: Outfielder Austin Wates joined the RedHawks today after being promoted from Double-A Corpus Christi. Wates was hitting .310 with a home run, 5 RBI, and 11 stolen bases (3rd in Texas League) in 23 games with the Hooks. Including this year, Wates is a career .304 hitter. He was a 2012 Texas League Postseason All-Star after hitting .304 with seven home runs and 48 RBI with 17 stolen bases for Corpus Christi. Wates was also named Lancaster's team MVP in 2011 (.300/6/75; 26 SB). The Richmond, Va. native was the Astros' third round pick of the 2010 draft from Virginia Tech.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Friday, May 10 7:05 p.m. Tacoma LHP Brett Oberholtzer (1-3, 7.71) LHP Jimmy Gillheeney (2-0, 2.84)

Saturday, May 11 7:05 p.m. Salt Lake RHP Ross Seaton (0-2, 10.42) RHP Billy Buckner (3-2, 4.81)

Sunday, May 12 7:05 p.m. Salt Lake RHP Jarred Cosart (4-0, 2.18) RHP A.J. Schugel (0-2, 5.82)

Monday, May 13 7:05 p.m. Salt Lake RHP Brad Peacock (0-0, 6.00) RHP Matt Shoemaker (2-5, 4.27)


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