RedHawks at Isotopes Tonight
Published on July 30, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
TONIGHT: The RedHawks look for their second straight win and a lead in the season series in the third of a 4-game set at Albuquerque. OKC won last night 6-2, squaring this series at 1-1 and the season series at 7 wins apiece. The RedHawks have won 3 out of 4, 8 of 10 and are 10-4 since the All-Star Break. They are second, 1.5 games back of Albuquerque in the American South Division. Righthander Josh Rupe gets the start for the RedHawks. He left in line for a win but did not get a decision in his other start against Albuquerque on June 7. Righthander J.D. Durbin is due to start for the Isotopes, his first against OKC.
ANOTHER 6-2 FINAL: Justin Smoak went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs in the RedHawks' 6-2 win last night. Each team has won a 6-2 game this series. Smoak delivered a 2-run double in a 3-run third inning that put OKC up 4-1. Luis Mendoza (4-4) won his second straight start by allowing 4 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. Henry Bonilla (3-7) made a spot start and took the loss, allowing 4 runs in 6 hits in 2.1 innings replacing Scott Elbert. Kevin Richardson hit his team-high 11th home run to lead off the seventh inning.
DIVISION RACE UPDATE: Last night's win put OKC back to within 1.5 games of the Isotopes in the division race. The RedHawks have not been less than 1.5 games out since July 2, when a 14-inning, 1-0 win at Iowa the night before put them a half-game back. The RedHawks are 10-4 since the All-Star Break, while Albuquerque sports an 11-3 mark in that time.
HAWKS KEEP JONES IN THE PARK: Albuquerque's Mitch Jones had his 6-game home run streak against the RedHawks snapped last night. Jones has 7 of Albuquerque's 14 homers against the RedHawks this season while playing in 10 of the 14 games in the season series. OKC has allowed a league-low 65 home runs, 10.8% by Jones alone. Jones has collected 15 RBIs against OKC. RedHawks pitching has held the opposition homerless in 5 of the last 6 games.
QUALITY: Luis Mendoza's quality start last night was his second of the season, and second straight. OKC pitchers have turned in quality starts in 3 of the last 4 games, each lasting 7 innings. OKC is 13-5 when their starter goes at least 7 innings.
DE-FENSE: The RedHawks have made at least one error in 6 straight games dating to the start of the previous series with Nashville, totaling 8 miscues in that span. The RedHawks have made 24 errors in 26 games in July after committing just 13 in 28 June contests. OKC is tied with several clubs for the fourth-best fielding percentage in the league (.979) and has the third-lowest error total (82) behind 2 clubs with 72 and two others with 79.
GERMAN AMONG LEADERS: Esteban German is hitless so far in this series at 0-for-7 with a hit-by-pitch, but he's still among the PCL leaders in various categories. German is eighth in batting average (.322), second in on-base percentage at .422, third in walks with 59 and fourth in stolen bases with 32. He leads the RedHawks with 57 RBIs.
STREAKING: Royce Huffman has had a pair of 2-for-3 games this series. Huffman's on-base streak has reached 22 games. The streak started July 3. Huffman has more doubles (22) than any other RedHawk has extra-base hits. He also has a 7-game hitting streak, during which he's 11-for-26 (.423). Julio Borbon has hit safely in 6 straight (12-for-28, .429). Justin Smoak brings a 5-game hitting streak into tonight, a Triple-A best for Smoak. During the streak, Smoak is 7-for-19 (.368). Smoak has played in all 23 RedHawks games since being promoted from Double-A Frisco July 4.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 30, 2009
- Zephyrs Defeat Sounds In Rain-Shortened Game - Nashville Sounds
- Z's Win Rain Shortened Game - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Redbirds, Express Rained Out - Memphis Redbirds
- Beavers Break Out Special Jerseys for the Cure on Sunday - Portland Beavers
- Second Express Pitcher Called Up - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks at Isotopes Tonight - Oklahoma City Comets
- Angels Option Mosebach to Salt Lake, Cabrera Reassigned to Orem - Salt Lake Bees
- Topes Groundkeeper Hired by Minnesota Twins - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Justin Duchscherer Scheduled to Make Rehab Appearance Friday at Raley Field - Sacramento River Cats
- Hester Blasts Aces Past Rainiers, 11-4 - Reno Aces
- RedHawks, Rain Douse Isotopes 6-2 - Albuquerque Isotopes
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