Oklahoma City Prepares To Take On Albuquerque
Published on June 9, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
TODAY: The RedHawks look for their second series win in a row when they take on Albuquerque in the final game of a 4-game set. The RedHawks lead the series 2-1 on the strength of a second straight last-at bat win, 5-4 last night. The RedHawks are on their first 2-game road winning streak of the season. OKC sits 1 game back of Round Rock and Albuquerque in the American South Division. Righthander Elizardo Ramirez returns to the RedHawks' rotation after nearly a month primarily spent in the bullpen. Ramirez is 2-3 with a 3.30 ERA as a starter this season, 0-1 with a 11.05 as a reliever. Lefty Shawn Estes gets the start for the Isotopes.
BORBON CIRCLES BASES, SENDS HAWKS TO VICTORY: Julio Borbon's liner to center in last night's ninth inning scored both baserunners and himself to put the RedHawks in front for good in a come-from-behind, 5-4 win. OKC was down 4-1 entering the ninth. At one time ruled an inside-the-park homer after a diving catch attempt by Jovanny Rosario failed, the call was changed after the game to a single and error on Rosario. The climactic drive, similar in some aspects to an inside-the-park homer credited to Hector Luna in Oklahoma City May 31, capped a 4-run rally against Scott Strickland (0-1), handing him his first blown save and loss. Beau Vaughan (3-2) needed help from Clayton Hamilton in the ninth, but picked up the win. Hamilton stranded an inherited runner and retired the side unscored upon for his first Triple-A save.
LOST IN THE SHUFFLE?: Not to be overlooked last night was a 6-inning spot start by Bryan Corey, who replaced scheduled starter Guillermo Moscoso about 2 1/2 hours before the game. Corey, making only his second start of the year, threw a season-high 81 pitches while allowing 4 runs on 8 hits.
SAVE IT: Clayton Hamilton's save last night was the first by a RedHawk since Brian Gordon saved Game 1 of a May 18 split doubleheader over Tacoma.
MURPHY STAYS HOT: Steve Murphy went 2-for-4 with a ninth-inning RBI last night to extend his hitting streak to 6 games. During the streak, Murphy is 12-for-23 (.522) with a homer and 4 RBIs. This series, Murphy is 9-for-13 with a double, triple, 5 runs and 2 RBIs.
PITCHING TO CONTACT: RedHawks pitchers walked only one batter and struck out one last night. Albuquerque out-hit OKC 11-7. The RedHawks improved to 5-27 when out-hit this season.
ALBUQUERQUE HOMERS: The Isotopes hit 2 home runs last night, solo shots by Jason Repko and Mitch Jones. RedHawks pitching has allowed the second-fewest home runs in the league (33, to Memphis' 31), but 12 of the 33 have been hit by Isotopes. Jones has hit 5 of his 19 homers against OKC.
HUFFMAN'S STREAK ENDS: Royce Huffman saw his 9-game hitting streak end last night. Huffman was 10-for-32 (.313) with 4 RBIs during the stretch. He leads the team in doubles with 13 and has more doubles than any other RedHawk has extra-base hits.
GERMAN GETS HIS HACKS: Esteban German is on 7-game hitting streak, his best of the season, during which he's 11-for-25 (.440) with a homer, 4 RBIs and 7 walks. German leads the RedHawks with 30 RBIs, a .321 batting average and 18 stolen bases. German is fifth in the PCL in on-base percentage at .444 and third in walks with 40, 10 behind Omaha's Kila Ka'aihue.
UPCOMING PROBABLES:
Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio
Wed. June 10 Off day
Thursday June 11 @ New Orleans RH Neftali Feliz 3-3, 3.45 RH Clay Hensley 2-1, 4.67 KTOK AM 1000
Friday June 12 @ New Orleans RH Tommy Hunter 1-2, 4.75 LH John Koronka 3-2, 3.33 KTOK AM 1000
Saturday June 13 @ New Orleans RH Josh Rupe 0-3, 7.18 LH Willie Collazo 5-2, 4.17 KTOK AM 1000
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 9, 2009
- Zephyrs Beat Up 'Birds in Finale - Memphis Redbirds
- Z's win in Memphis - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- RedHawks Outlast Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Beavers Take Finale Over Aces - Reno Aces
- Buschmann Leads Beavers Past Reno - Portland Beavers
- Cubs Pounce on Express - Iowa Cubs
- Bobby Engram Celebrity Softball Game - Saturday - Tacoma Rainiers
- Isotopes Fans Frenzied Over Franks - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Oklahoma City Prepares To Take On Albuquerque - Oklahoma City Comets
- Reno Shuts Out Portland, 3-0 - Reno Aces
- Beavers Come Up Empty Against Aces, Valdez - Portland Beavers
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