PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes

Published on August 24, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


LAST GAME: Oklahoma rallied to beat Iowa 10-8 Saturday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Casey Benjamin hit two home runs, including an eighth inning, three run shot off Hector Carrasco to give Oklahoma its first lead in a game during this series since the fifth inning on Thursday. Bill White struck out Koyie Hill with the bases loaded in the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the win. Max Ramirez and Chris Shelton also hit home runs for the RedHawks, which evened this series and two wins apiece.

AMERICAN SOUTH CHAMPIONS: With win last night by Oklahoma and Albuquerque, the RedHawks clinched the American South division title. Oklahoma has been in or tied for first since April 7, spanning 139 days, and was the first club to clinch its division in the Pacific Coast League this season. This regular season title is the fifth in RedHawks history (1999, 2002, 2004, & 2005) and the tenth in Oklahoma City Triple-A history (including seven in the PCL and three in the American Association).

CASEY LEADS WITH THE BAT: Casey Benjamin's multi-home run game was his first since the 2005 season when he was playing for the Clinton LumberKings. Benjamin hit two home runs at Dayton on August 12, 2005. The RedHawks infielder was the first player to hit two home runs in a game since Nate Gold hit three at Colorado Springs on July 28, and his five runs batted in are the most in a game by a player since Ryan Roberts drove in seven (all in the second inning) on July 26, also at Colorado Springs.

GET'EM WHILE THEY LAST:

RedHawk playoff tickets are on sale at the ballpark and on the internet at www.oklahomaredhawks.com. Oklahoma would host game three on September 5 at 7:05 pm, and games four and five over the weekend if necessary. Saturday's game would also start at 7:05 pm, while the Sunday's tilt would begin at 2:05 pm.

NEAR NEW HOME RUN KING:

Nelson Cruz became the RedHawks all-time, single season home run leader on July 19 with a three home run game. Cruz passed Steve Balboni's total during the 1993 season for second-most in Oklahoma's Triple-A history with his 37th home run in the seventh inning on July 27; the final home run in his 11 home run in ten games binge and last before getting placed on the disabled list on August 2. Dave Roberts holds first place on the all-time list with 38 home runs during the 1965 season.

THIRD PLACE:

Nelson Cruz remains five runs batted in shy of tying Nate Gold's RedHawks record 103 RBI set last season. Cruz's 98 RBIs are tied for ninth all-time in Oklahoma City's Triple-A history, matching Keith Moreland's 1978 total. Jason Botts drove in 102 in 2005, the second-most total in RedHawks history.

IOWA AT A GLANCE:

The Cub's magic number remained at two after last evening loss and a win by Memphis at Omaha. The Cubs have an eight game lead with nine games to play, including the next four against the Redbirds in Memphis. Iowa holds the season series edged over Memphis 8-4. Iowa could clinch the American North Division tonight with a win and a Memphis loss.

DOT-DOT-DOT:

Albuquerque's win over New Orleans eliminated both clubs from playoff contention last night. The loss eliminated the Zephyrs, and the RedHawks own the tiebreaker against Isotopes by taking the season series 9-7... Nate Gold's on-base streak was snapped at eight games with an 0-4 performance Saturday night.

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 24, 2008


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