Albuquerque Isotopes at Oklahoma City RedHawks
Published on May 29, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
TONIGHT:
The Oklahoma City RedHawks open an 8-day, 9-game homestand with the first of 5 against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Los Angeles Dodgers). Albuquerque won 2 out of 3 in a rain-shortened series in April at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The May 5 rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 5:05 pm CDT. Righthander Clayton Hamilton is up from Double-A Frisco to make his Triple-A debut as tonight's OKC starter replacing the recalled Tommy Hunter. Hamilton was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 games (4 starts) for Frisco. Righthander James McDonald gets the start for the Isotopes. OKC is third in the American South Division, 3.5 games back of the division-leading Isotopes.
SILVER STATE SLIDE:
The Reno Aces scored all their runs in the third inning yesterday in winning the series finale 7-6. The Aces took 3 out of 4 from the RedHawks, who followed a 6-2 homestand with a 2-6 trip to Las Vegas and Reno. Nate Gold's grand slam, OKC's first of the year, put the Hawks up 4-0 in the top of the third against starter and eventual winning pitcher Hector Ambriz (1-2). Reno countered with 7 runs on 7 hits in the bottom of the third against OKC starer Josh Rupe (0-2), who took the loss. The RedHawks chipped away with runs in the seventh and eighth against Reno's bullpen, but left the potential tying runs on base in each of the last 3 innings. Bobby Korecky secured the final 5 outs for his sixth save.
VALLEJO TO DL:
Infielder Jose Vallejo left yesterday's game with a sprained right ankle and has been placed on the 7-day DL. X-rays regarding a possible fracture were negative. Adam Fox has been promoted from Double-A Frisco.
NO GOPHERS:
OKC pitching has gone 10 games without allowing a homer and has given up the fewest home runs (23) in the league. The last homer against OKC came on May 17. RedHawks hitters have produced the fewest home runs in the league (20), but have homered in 7 of their last 10 games.
STRIKING GOLD:
Nate Gold hit both OKC homers in the Reno series, including yesterday's slam, the team's first of the year and his second as a RedHawk. His other grand slam came May 11, 2007 at Las Vegas. Gold went 7-for-17 with a pair of home runs and 9 RBIs in Reno, raising his batting average from .156 to .226 in the 4 games.
GERMAN HIGHLIGHTS:
Esteban German leads the team with 25 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He's seventh in the league in on-base percentage at .440 and tied for third in walks with 30.
BORBON KEEPS IT UP:
Julio Borbon has hit safely in 5 straight and 15 of his last 16 games. He leads the club with 56 hits and 4 triples.
LONG GAME UPDATE:
Yesterday's 3-hour, 4-minute game time continued a trend of long RedHawks games. The shortest duration of any game on the trip was 2:53 on May 22 at Las Vegas. OKC has played six 9-inning games this season lasting 3:20 or longer and five of them have been in series openers.
DOT...DOT...DOT...
OKC is 4-8 in series openers and has dropped to 3-9 in series finales...the RedHawks have not won back-to-back road games and share the fewest road wins (7) with Las Vegas...OKC lost 4 games on the just-concluded trip by one-run margins, dropping their record to 7-8 in games decided by a single run...the first 3 of those one-run losses were walkoffs...OKC hitters drew 23 walks in Reno while striking out 39 times, while Reno batters walked 13 times and whiffed 13 times against RedHawks pitching.
UPCOMING PROBABLES:
Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio
Saturday Game 1 Albuquerque RH Doug Mathis 3-2, 3.31 LH Shawn Estes 3-1, 3.19 FOX AM 1340
Saturday Game 2 Albuquerque RH Bryan Corey 1-2, 8.44 LH Stephen Randolph 0-2, 11.42
Sunday May 31 Albuquerque RH Neftali Feliz 2-2, 3.93 RH Giancarlo Alvarado 2-4, 3.63 FOX AM 1340
Monday June 1 Albuquerque RH Luis Mendoza 2-2, 2.81 RH Charlie Haeger 5-3, 4.99 FOX AM 1340
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 29, 2009
- Sky Sox Hang Tough and Rally Late to Beat Tacoma 13-9 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Grizzlies Blank Beavers - Portland Beavers
- Royals Take Series Opener, 7-3 - Nashville Sounds
- Aces Take Win 4-0 - Reno Aces
- Express Rally Past Zephyrs 6-3 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Memphis Miscues Lead to Loss - Memphis Redbirds
- Colorado Springs Manager Tom Runnels Named Bench Coach - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- NAIFA Fireworks, Bucket Boys on June 5th - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Outfielder Emil Brown Aquired by New York Mets - Portland Beavers
- New Sky Sox Skipper Will Be Announced in the Coming Days - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Albuquerque Isotopes at Oklahoma City RedHawks - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sandoval Placed on DL, Seanez and Segura Recalled - Salt Lake Bees
- Bees to Begin Air Force Week 2009 with Airman's Opener - Salt Lake Bees
- Redbirds Earn Series Split Behind Pagnozzi, Mortensen - Portland Beavers
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