PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes

Published on August 9, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma RedHawks (65-55) at Albuquerque Isotopes (51-68)

Game 121 | August 9, 2008 | Isotopes Park | Albuquerque, NM

Radio: Fox Sports Radio AM 1340, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by- Play: Jim Byers

TODAY'S MATCHUP

RH Brian Gordon (3-3, 4.50) vs. RH Frankie De La Cruz (10-7, 4.70)

Gordon: Surrendered 6 R on 11 H over 6.2 IP with 4 K & 2 BB in 8/03 loss vs. TUC (8-1 TUC)

De La Cruz: Surrendered 5 R on 8 H over 7.0 IP with 6 K in 8/03 loss @ TAC (5-3 TAC)

LAST GAME: Oklahoma rallied for four runs over the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but Tag Bozied's three-run home run off Elizardo Ramirez in the bottom of the seventh gave Albuquerque a lead they would not surrender in a 5-4 win. Ramirez had only allowed two runs over six and two thirds on eight hits before facing Bozied, his final batter. Joaquin Arias and Nate Gold hit solo home runs to lead the RedHawks offense. Ben Harrison and Craig Gentry each knocked their first Triple-A hits in the loss.

SEVEN UP: Oklahoma's loss and New Orleans win dropped the RedHawks division lead down to seven games. Oklahoma's margin over the second place club has decreased by four over the last ten days. The RedHawks had an 11 game lead as recently as July 29, their largest division lead of the season. The seven game advantage is the smallest margin since July 7 when Oklahoma beat Albuquerque 4-3 in 13 innings. Oklahoma's magic number is still 18.

GORDON AGAINST ALBUQUERQUE:

Brian Gordon will face the Isotopes for the second time this season. The right-hander pitched six shutout innings on July 8 in Oklahoma's 4-0 win at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Gordon struck out eight in the win, his first as a RedHawk. In 2007 as a reliever for the Round Rock Express, Gordon went 1-0 with an ERA of 0.00 over three innings, striking out three of the ten batters he faced during that span.

ONE MORE TIME:

Frankie De La Cruz will face Oklahoma for the fourth time this season, matching New Orleans' Ruddy Lugo and Brian Stokes for the most starts against the RedHawks this year. De La Cruz is 1-1 against Oklahoma this season, has struck out 11 RedHawks, and has walked 12. De La Cruz has also allowed 13 earned runs over 13.2 inning for an ERA of 8.56 against Oklahoma in 2008.

ACTIVATED AND OPTIONED:

Brandon McCarthy, who had been with Oklahoma since July 22 on a Major League rehab assignment, was activated from the Texas Rangers' disabled list and the optioned back to the RedHawks. McCarthy hasn't pitched for Texas yet this season and is working back to full strength from right forearm inflammation. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA for the RedHawks after four starts, and is slated to pitch on Tuesday at Nashville.

WITHOUT CRUZ:

Oklahoma dropped to 11-16 in games when Nelson Cruz is not in the starting lineup. Cruz is on the RedHawks disabled list with a strained left quad. The outfielder is still among the Minor League leaders in several major offensive categories, including home runs (2nd), runs batted in (3rd), and runs scored (2nd), despite having not played since August 1.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION:

Texas lost 9-1 at Baltimore... Frisco got drilled by Tulsa 13-2... Bakersfield slipped by Modesto 5-4... Clinton beat Wisconsin 3-1... Spokane gave up a run in the top of the ninth and lost 4-3 to Vancouver.

DOT-DOT-DOT:

The RedHawks are 2-5 thus far this month, matching four other clubs for the worst August record in the league. Tacoma is 7-0 so far in August. Oklahoma's win total matches Albuquerque, Fresno, Memphis, and Omaha... Doug Mathis will make a rehab start for Oklahoma tomorrow. Mathis was placed on the Rangers 15-day disabled list June 20 with right shoulder inflammation... Chris Shelton currently has a six game hitting streak dating back to August 2, and an 11 game on-base streak going back to July 27. The RedHawks infielder has reached base safely in 37 of his 43 Triple-A games this season... Nate Gold has an 11 game on-base streak dating back to July 28.

ON THE AIR:

Every game this season can be heard on the RedHawks Radio Network, led by broadcaster Jim Byers for the ninth season, and joined by Adam Marco during each homestand. Fox Sports Radio AM 1340 in Oklahoma City will serve as the flagship station in 2008. The network affiliates this season are KSIW 1450 AM in Woodward, KXCA 1380 AM in Lawton, KPNS 1350 AM in Duncan, KTJS 1420 AM in Hobart, KGFF 1450 AM in Shawnee, and KWSH 1260 AM in Wewoka. Each game will also be broadcast on the internet through the audio link at www.oklahomaredhawks.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 9, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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