Oklahoma RedHawk Game Notes
Published on April 13, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Round Rock Express at Oklahoma RedHawks - 7:05 p.m. AT&T Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City
HEADLINES: RedHawks drop second straight ... Volquez pitches tonight ... Burke and Walker get rings
TODAY'S OPPONENT: The Round Rock Express are the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They have been a member of the Pacific Coast League since 2005. The franchise re-located from Edmonton following the 2004 season. Round Rock is located about 18 miles north of Austin, Texas.
TODAY'S GAME: The RedHawks complete their eight-game homestand against Round Rock. It is Oklahoma's eighth game of the season, eighth home game and fourth game against Round Rock. The RedHawks go on an eight-game road trip to Nashville and Memphis starting tomorrow. They will return April 22 for an eight-game homestand against Nashville and Albuquerque .
LAST GAME: Round Rock beat Oklahoma 10-6 thanks to four-run innings in the sixth and eighth. Mike Rodriguez went four-for-five at the plate for Round Rock with an RBI. Eight Round Rock players in the starting lineup had RBIs in last night's game. Oklahoma's Will Smith hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning. It was his first of the season and Oklahoma 's first in its series against Round Rock.
VS. ROUND ROCK: Last year the RedHawks were 6-10 against the Express and 2-6 against them at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. However, the RedHawks took three of four in a series in Round Rock 8/12-15 to help them win the PCL American Southern division.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Starting pitcher Edinson Volquez makes his second start of the year for the RedHawks. He earned the win in his first start Saturday against Memphis. He pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Volquez is Texas' No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America. He was 6-9 with a 4.10 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 22 minor-league starts last season. Lefty Mark McLemore starts for Round Rock. He was 5-6 with a 2.81 ERA in 15 starts for AA Corpus Christi last season. He season was shortened on June 28 with left elbow tendinitis.
HOME SWEET HOME: Going back to July 22 of last season, the RedHawks are 25-7 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark (.781) including 1-1 in last year's playoffs against Nashville. They are 24-6 (.800) at home in regular season games since July 22.
WORLD SERIES RINGS: RedHawks catcher Jamie Burke and pitcher Kevin Walker played in the White Sox organization last year and spent some time with the major league team. Today, they received their World Series Championship rings from the White Sox.
JASON BOTTS: First baseman Jason Botts has started the 2006 season on a seven-game hitting streak. He is 12-for-27 (.444) at the plate with three home runs and 12 RBIs in seven games. Botts is tied for the PCL league-lead in RBIs with Las Vegas' Willy Aybar.
QUICK START: The RedHawks have scored 23 of their 42 runs this season in the first three innings (55 percent). They've scored seven runs in innings four through six, 11 in innings seven through nine and one run in the 13th inning.
ATTENDANCE: The RedHawks set Oklahoma City Triple-A records for total and average attendance in 2005. They drew 542,095 fans for 70 home openings, an average of 7,744. They averaged 6,678 fans in 2004 and 7,221 fans in 1998, the previous record set the first year of AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
DOT-DOT-DOTS: No RedHawk starter has gone longer than 5.1 innings so far this season (R.A. Dickey 4/8 vs. Memphis and John Rheinecker 4/12 vs. Round Rock) ... The RedHawks pitching staff is third in the PCL in strikeouts with 69. New Orleans has 86 and Las Vegas has 72 ... The RedHawks pitching staff is in a three-way tie for least home runs allowed in the PCL with two. Iowa and Tucson pitchers have also allowed only two home runs so far this season ... RedHawks pitcher Chris Baker was traded Thursday to Houston for a player to be named. He will report to AAA Round Rock.
PITCHING PROBABLES
Date Opponent RedHawks pitcher vs. Opposing pitcher
Thu., April 13 Round Rock RH Edinson Volquez (1-0, 3.60) vs. LH Mark McLemore (0-1, 0.00)
Fri., April 14 @Nashville RH Jon Leicester (1-0, 7.20) vs. LH Dana Eveland (0-0, 1.80)
Sat., April 15 @Nashville RH R.A. Dickey (1-0, 3.38) vs. RH Dennis Sarfate (0-0, 2.25)
Sun., April 16 @Nashville RH Rob Tejeda (0-1, 9.00) vs. LH Justin Thompson (0-0, 27.00)
Mon., April 17 @Nashville LH John Rheinecker (0-1, 9.31) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (1-0, 0.00)
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 13, 2006
- Portland three-hit in 3-1 loss - Portland Beavers
- Express Split Series with Oklahoma after 3-2 Loss - Round Rock Express
- Zephyrs win seventh straight - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- RedHawks hold on for 3-2 win - Oklahoma City Comets
- Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame celebrates class of 2006 - PCL1
- Another Late Rally Dooms Sounds In 2-1 Loss - Nashville Sounds
- Grizzlies to open 2006 season at Grizzlies Stadium - Fresno Grizzlies
- Isotopes end midwest swing with 11-5 loss to Omaha - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Oklahoma RedHawk Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Beavers come back but fall to late power surge - Portland Beavers
- Gonzalez and bullpen turn in quality performance to shut out Grizzlies 3-0 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Express survive slugfest with RedHawks - Round Rock Express
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