PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Express at RedHawks Tonight

Published on June 26, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


TONIGHT: The RedHawks conclude their season-high 11-game homestand with the fourth game of a series with the Round Rock Express (Houston Astros) at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. OKC is 7-3 on the homestand and leads the series 3-0. The RedHawks have won a season-best 5 straight games and 6 of 7 after a 3-1 win last night. They're second, 1.5 games back of Albuquerque in the American South Division. Round Rock is fourth, 5 games out of first. OKC will start righthander Elizardo Ramirez. He pitched 7 innings in Round Rock on May 10 in a no decision, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits. Bud Norris, the PCL leader in strikeouts and ERA, gets the start for the Express. He beat OKC May 9, allowing 1 unearned run on 4 hits in 6.2 innings.

REDHAWKS EXTEND STREAK: A run of pitching-oriented OKC wins continued last night with a 3-1 decision over the Express, OKC's fifth consecutive win to establish a season high. The RedHawks have allowed 9 runs during the 5-game streak for an ERA of 1.80. They opened the scoring with 2 runs in last night's fifth inning on an RBI double by Max Ramirez and a single by Royce Huffman. The lead grew to 3-0 on Ramirez's second RBI double in the seventh before the Express closed the scoring with a run in the eighth against Neftali Feliz in his relief debut. Starter Guillermo Moscoso (2-0) went 5 innings in his first start since June 3 for the win. Warner Madrigal earned his seventh save. Round Rock starter Josh Muecke (1-7) allowed 2 unearned runs in 5 innings for the loss.

MAD DOGS AND SAVES: Warner Madrigal has picked up a save in 3 straight games and leads the team with 7. Last year's OKC saves leaders were Wes Littleton and Bill White with 6. With Monday's off day factored in, Madrigal has worked in 4 straight games and each of the last 3 days, becoming the second RedHawk to pitch 3 days in a row. Mike Hinckley was first to appear on 3 straight days June 16-18. Madrigal has retried 10 straight batters since allowing a leadoff single in his outing on Sunday.

NEFTALI IN RELIEF: Top prospect Neftali Feliz is being transitioned to a relief role with the RedHawks and made his first Triple-A relief appearance last night. It was his first appearance in relief since Sept. 5, 2007 as a member of the Spokane Indians. That night in Spokane, he followed a 6-inning start by Derek Holland and preceded Tommy Hunter into the game. Last night, Feliz induced a double play ground ball and fly out in his first relief inning and allowed a run on 2 hits in his second inning.

SHUTDOWN INNINGS: During the current 5-game winning streak, the RedHawks' bullpen has combined to pitch 16 innings while allowing 2 runs on 9 hits. The bullpen has lowered its collective ERA from 5.04 heading into the winning streak to today's 4.79.

RARE ERROR: OKC committed 1 error last night, snapping a string of 5 errorless games.

NO JUNE SWOON: The RedHawks are 14-9 in June, having already surpassed their win totals from April (9) and May (12). New Orleans leads the PCL in June wins with 15, followed by the RedHawks, Sacramento, Reno and Nashville with 14.

GERMAN STILL AMONG LEADERS: Esteban German leads the team with a .307 batting average, 35 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He's third in the PCL in on-base percentage at .426 and third in walks with 47.

HOME HAPPINESS: OKC is second in the PCL in home wins with 24, behind Sacramento's 28. The RedHawks are 24-18 at home and 11-19 on the road.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 26, 2009


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