PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: April 15, 2012

April 15, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Memphis Redbirds (1-9) vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks (8-2)

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros

Game #11 of 144/Road #3 of 72 (2-0)

Pitching Probables: MEM-RH Brandon Dickson (1-1, 2.38) vs. OKC-RH Paul Clemens (1-1, 1.64)

Sunday, April 15, 2012 | AutoZone Park | Memphis, Tenn.| 1:35 p.m. CT

Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio - J.P. Shadrick, play-by-play; Alex Freedman, studio host

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

Monday, April 16 @ Memphis (STL): OKC-RH Aneury Rodriguez (1-0, 4.66) vs. MEM-RH Brian Broderick (0-2, 8.00) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRado

Tuesday, April 17 @ Nashville (MIL): OKC-LH Dallas Keuchel (2-0, 0.00) vs. NAS-RH Josh Butler (0-2, 3.86) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio

Wednesday, April 18 @ Nashville (MIL): OKC-RH Jordan Lyles (2-0, 2.08) vs. NAS-RH Brian Baker (1-1, 4.82) - 11:05 a.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio

Thursday, April 19 @ Nashville (MIL): OKC-RH Henry Sosa (0-0, 3.00) vs. NAS-RH Seth McClung (0-1, 9.00) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio

Friday, April 20 @ Nashville (MIL): OKC-RH Paul Clemens (1-1, 1.64) vs. NAS-RH Wily Peralta (0-1, 2.45) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio

Today's Game-- The RedHawks look for a fourth straight win overall and a fifth straight against Memphis when they meet under the sun at 1:35 p.m. Today's pitching matchup is a rematch from opening night, when Brandon Dickson bested Paul Clemens.

Last Night-- The RedHawks scored the game's final four runs for a 4-3 win over Memphis. Memphis opened the scoring in the first three innings against RedHawks starter Henry Sosa. Oklahoma City got on the board in the fifth inning against Memphis starter Nick Additon when Brian Bixler led off with a home run. In the sixth inning, J.B. Shuck led off with a single and scored on a Scott Moore pinch-hit two-run home run that tied the score 3-3. The RedHawks took the lead for good in the ninth. Justin Ruggiano doubled with one out and scored when right fielder Cedric Hunter mishandled a Mike Hessman line drive that gave Oklahoma City a 4-3 lead. Xavier Cedeno (1-0), in his first day off the disabled list, picked up the relief win after a perfect eighth inning. Jose Valdez (2) saved the game with a hitless ninth inning.

Today's Probable Pitchers-- Paul Clemens looks for a second straight win after earning the victory Tuesday vs. Nashville...Against the Sounds, Clemens allowed one unearned run over five innings, with five hits, one walk, and four strikeouts...His season debut came against the Redbirds on Opening Night...In six innings, Clemens allowed a pair of solo homers, and it was enough to be tagged with the loss...Clemens is in his first full season with the Astros organization after being acquired from Atlanta as one of four players in exchange for Michael Bourn last year...Memphis starter Brandon Dickson is responsible for the Redbirds only win of the season when he defeated the RedHawks on April 5...Dickson was extremely efficient, throwing just 70 pitches in 5.1 innings while coaxing 10 groundouts...His only misstep was allowing an early homer to Mike Hessman...Once an undrafted free agent, Dickson is in his third year with Memphis and made four appearnces for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

That's Not Normal-- The RedHawks were a surprising 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position last night and left a season-high 12 runners on base. Despite the rough night, they are still hitting .323 as a team with runners in scoring position (3rd in PCL) and .341 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs to lead the league. For sake of comparison, Memphis is hitting .116 with runners in scoring position, and .100 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs.

Living in the Zone-- The RedHawks pitching staff has allowed just 20 walks this season, best in the PCL. In six of their 10 games, they have issued two walks or less. Last night's first inning walk to Bryan Anderson ended a stretch of 23.1 innings without a free pass. When Zack Cox walked in the ninth against Jose Valdez--an 11 pitch at-bat--it stopped a streak of 17 straight appearances totaling 20.1 innings by the bullpen without allowing a walk.

Bixler's Big Addition-- After getting optioned to the RedHawks from Houston, Brian Bixler has made quite the first impression. In his first two games with the RedHawks, Bixler is 6-for-8 and has reached base in 8 of his first 10 plate apperances. Bixler has also added another dimension to the RedHawks, already stealing four bases.

Power Surge-- After hitting just three homers in their first eight games, including none in the four games prior to the current series, the RedHawks have exploded for five homers in Memphis. Although they entered the series last in the PCL in home runs, they are now tied for 7th.

Fantastic Fernando-- RedHawks outfielder Fernando Martinez had his nine-game hitting streak end last night after bouncing into a fielder's choice as a pinch hitter. Martinez was just one of five players in the PCL to hit safely in the first nine games of the season. He ranks second in the PCL in RBIs (13) and leads the team in hits (13), home runs (3), and extra-base hits (6).

Hail Hessman-- RedHawks first baseman Mike Hessman is the active leader in career minor league home runs. His 330 blasts is almost 100 more than Val Pascucci of Buffalo, who is second on the list with 235. Toledo's Brad Eldred ranks third with 230. Combined with his homers from the Majors and Japan, Hessman has a total of 350 career home runs since beginning his professional career in 1996.

Against the Redbirds-- After a one-run setback on opening night, the RedHawks have taken five straight from the Redbirds...During the win streak they've outscored Memphis 40-14, winning by seven runs or more three times...For the season, they are hitting .309 against the Memphis pitching staff...Last season the RedHawks were just 5-11 against the Redbirds and went 1-7 at AutoZone Park, losing their last seven straight...The next series is June 30-July 3 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

RedHawks Radio-- For the second consecutive season, the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Clear Channel Radio of Oklahoma City will broadcast all 144 RedHawks games on AM 1340 The Game...Each game will be carried live and all broadcasts will start 30 minutes before the first pitch with "RedHawks On-Deck"... Game audio will also be available through the station website stream at 1340thegame.com and on mobile devices through the free Clear Channel iheartradio app.... "The Voice of the RedHawks" J.P. Shadrick returns for his second season and will be joined in the booth this year by Alex Freedman.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 15, 2012


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