PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: August 17, 2013

Published on August 17, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (71-56) vs. Albuquerque Isotopes (67-60)

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game #128 of 144/Home #62 of 73 (39-22)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Paul Clemens (2-1, 3.93) vs. ALB-RHP Angel Castro (8-3, 3.48)

Saturday, August 17, 2013 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7:05 p.m. CT

Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio - Alex Freedman

Today's Game: The RedHawks continue their five-game series with Albuquerque at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Oklahoma City has a four-game edge on the Isotopes in the division standings entering tonight's contest. The first 2,000 fans through the gate will receive a R.A. Dickey mini bobblehead, presented by Heartland Flyer.

Last Game: The RedHawks opened their homestand with a 3-2 win Friday against Albuquerque at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. A RBI single by Brandon Laird broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning to score the eventual winning run for Oklahoma City. Albuquerque took the lead twice, but the RedHawks answered in the bottom of the inning each time. Trailing 1-0 in the third, George Springer answered with a solo home run to center field to knot the score. Albuquerque once again took the lead on a RBI single by Eliezer Alfonzo in the top of the sixth, but the RedHawks answered again in the bottom of the inning when Jon Singleton hit an RBI double. RedHawks pitcher Jorge De Leon sealed his second save with OKC by retiring all three Isotopes batters he faced in the top of the ninth. RedHawks reliever Eric Berger (5-3) got the win, holding Albuquerque scoreless and hitless over 1.2 innings.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Paul Clemens looks to rebound from his first loss with the RedHawks this season when makes his start tonight...Clemens battled through 5.1 innings Aug. 12 in Tucson, allowing seven runs (five earned), eight hits and three walks. He got off to a rough start, surrendering four runs in the first inning. Two OKC errors led to three more runs in the third. However, he finished strong, retiring eight of the final nine hitters he faced...Clemens returned to the RedHawks in late July after spending most of the season as a reliever with Houston, where he made 30 appearances with a 4-4 record and a 6.36 ERA. He endured a rough month in July, allowing 13 runs and 15 hits over 6.2 IP and was optioned to Oklahoma City July 29...In his first two games back with the RedHawks this month, he did not give up a run and allowed just four hits in eight innings over two games...Over the past two seasons, Clemens has been very successful at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, going 6-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 10 starts...He struggled in two starts against the Isotopes last season, both in Albuquerque. He allowed a total of 15 runs and lost each start, most recently May 27, 2012.

Against the Isotopes: 2013: 7-5 2012: 7-9 All-time: 89-82 In OKC: 50-33

With Friday's win, the RedHawks have won eight of the last nine meetings against the Isotopes in Bricktown and three of four so far this season, each coming by one run...The RedHawks are hitting .296 against Albuquerque in 2013, but the Isotopes have outscored Oklahoma City, 76-62...OKC has hit 12 home runs over the first 12 games between the teams while holding the Isotopes to five homers...Last season, the Isotopes won nine of the first 12 meetings before the RedHawks ended the season series with a four-game sweep in OKC...Brandon Laird has slugged three homers with 10 RBI over eight meetings...Albuquerque outfielder Matt Angle did not play Friday, but has worn out the RedHawks, batting .484 with two home runs, seven RBI, and a .600 on-base percentage. He hit .448 against OKC in 2012.

Friendly Confines: The RedHawks own a 13-game winning streak at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. During the streak they are batting .310 (129x416), including .325 (41x126) with runners in scoring position, and have a 2.85 team ERA (37 ER/117.0 IP). They are tied for the second-longest home winning streak in team history, one behind the club record of 14, set last year (May 10-June 7). Their 39-22 home record is second-best in the Pacific Coast League, behind only Salt Lake (41-23).

Chasing the Crown: George Springer has gone deep three times in the past four games and last night added to his Minor League-leading home run total with his 34th overall homer this season. Despite playing in just 47 of the team's 127 games this year, he is now tied for the team lead in home runs (15). Springer also has 38 stolen bases and is the first player in the Minors to hit 30 home runs and steal at least 30 bases since former Oakland Athletics farmhand Grant Desme did so in 2009 (31 HR/40 SB).

The Laird Up There: Brandon Laird is 9-for-21 over his last five games, including a homer and three RBI. He is batting .367 (22x60) in August and ranks first in the PCL with 19 RBI this month and second with 22 hits. He is tied with teammate George Springer with a league-leading 15 runs scored in August as well.

More Than a Single-ton: With his RBI double Friday, Jon Singleton tied his season-best six-game hitting streak. He is easily having his best month of the season, batting .300 with 14 RBI through 15 games. He also has more walks (14) than strikeouts (12).

Middle of the Order Mashers: George Springer, Brandon Laird, and Jon Singleton each accounted for one of the team's three runs last night. Through the first 15 games of August, the trio has combined to hit .313 (50x160) with 10 homers and 48 RBI. They each represent three of the top five run producers in the PCL this month.

The Crowe Has Landed: Trevor Crowe's 14-game hitting streak came to and end last night, although he did draw a vital walk and scored the game-winning run. He batted .441 (26x59) during the streak and leads the PCL with 26 hits this month. Crowe also had a team-best 15-game hitting streak April 6-21, and just like last night, that streak ended while playing the Isotopes.

Little H, Big W: The RedHawks tied a season low for a nine-inning game last night with three hits (7x), but it was the second time they still came away with a victory. They won by the same exact 3-2 score during a three-hit effort in Memphis July 21.

Dinger Details: The RedHawks have allowed just one home run over the past six games, while hitting five of their own during that same stretch. It's the first time since May 22 their offensive season total (95) is higher than what they've allowed (94).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Sunday, August 18 6:05 p.m. Albuquerque RHP Asher Wojciechowski (7-6, 3.51) RHP Matt Palmer (6-6, 3.63)

Monday, August 19 7:05 p.m. Albuquerque RHP Bobby Doran (1-0, 4.56) RHP Stephen Fife (1-3, 4.23)

Tuesday, August 20 7:05 p.m. Albuquerque RHP Jake Buchanan (5-3, 3.07) LHP Jonathan Sanchez (5-3, 5.05)

Wednesday, August 21 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP David Martinez (0-1, 4.50) TBA

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 17, 2013


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