RedHawks Game Notes: August 20, 2012
Published on August 20, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (68-60) vs. Round Rock Express (59-70)
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers
Game #129 of 143/Road #66 of 72 (30-35)
Pitching Probables: OKC-LH Brett Oberholtzer (5-5, 5.29) vs. RR-LH Martin Perez (6-6, 4.46)
Monday, August 20, 2012 | The Dell Diamond | Round Rock, Tex.| 7:05 p.m. CT
Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio - Alex Freedman
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
Tuesday, August 21 @ Round Rock (TEX): OKC-LH Rudy Owens (0-2, 5.53) vs. RR-LH Zach Jackson (6-12, 4.69) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Wednesday, August 22 @ Iowa (CHC): OKC-RH Jarred Cosart (1-2, 5.40) vs. IOW-LH Horacio Ramirez (0-0, 1.50) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Thursday, August 23 @ Iowa (CHC): OKC-RH Jose Cisnero (2-1, 4.56) vs. IOW-LH Ryan Rowland-Smith (3-4, 4.12) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Friday, August 24 @ Iowa (CHC): OKC-LH Fernando Abad (2-0, 3.90) vs. IOW-RH Yoanner Negrin (0-0, 2.25) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Saturday, August 25 @ Iowa (CHC): OKC-LH Brett Oberholtzer (5-5, 5.29) vs. IOW-RH Ty'Relle Harris (1-2, 5.91) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Tonight's Game-- The RedHawks will look to take a third straight from Round Rock in their first game under new manager Tom Lawless at 7:05 p.m.
Last Night-- Carlos Corporan drove in three runs and for the second straight night, the RedHawks overcame an early deficit to down the Express 5-2. On the first pitch of the bottom of the first, Julio Borbon hit a towering home run past the grass berm in right field for the game's first run. Koyie Hill knocked a two-out RBI single in the second to push the Express' lead to 2-0. The RedHawks tied the game in the fourth. Brad Snyder collected an RBI double to make it 2-1. Two batters later, Jose Martinez sent a ground ball to short, but Luis Hernandez's throw to first was errant, allowing Snyder to score. Corporan broke the tie with a two-run single in the seventh and added an RBI double in the ninth. Round Rock loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but for the second straight day, Jose Valdez struck out Brad Nelson to end the game. Valdez earned his 16th save while Mark Hamburger (1-5) notched his first win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Tonight's Probable Pitchers-- Brett Oberholtzer looks to continue his recent run of great pitching...In each of his last two starts, Oberholtzer has gone seven innings and allowed a total of three runs and 10 hits...It's the first time at either level this season he has gone at least seven frames in back-to-back starts...On Wednesday against Fresno, Oberholtzer kept the Grizzlies quiet all night, allowing one run and averaging less than one baserunner per inning...Tonight he'll look to get over the hump on the road...Since joining the RedHawks in June, Oberholtzer has struggled away from Oklahoma City...In six road starts he has gone 1-4 with a 9.42 ERA...He has been finished in less than five innings in half of his road starts and only lasted six innings once...Tonight marks his first career game against the Express...As he heads into tonight's start, Round Rock pitcher Martin Perez is coming off an extremely impressive outing...On Wednesday in Reno, Perez allowed just one run and six hits over eight innings...The lefty has been hard to crack at The Dell Diamond, posting a 3.24 ERA and holding opponents to a .201 through nine home appearances...Perez has had success against the RedHawks this season, winning both previous starts...In 13 total innings, he's allowed three runs and only five hits...On June 15, Perez held the RedHawks to one hit over seven scoreless innings.
Tony D Gets the Call-- Yesterday morning RedHawks manager Tony DeFranceso was named interim manager of the Houston Astros. During his two seasons in Oklahoma City, DeFrancesco led the RedHawks to a 135-135 record. After going 68-75 last season, the RedHawks were 67-60 at the time of his departure. His career record in the PCL is 713-564, and he guided Sacramento to three league titles.
The New Skipper-- Astros Roving Infield Coordinator Tom Lawless has been named RedHawks manager and will join the team today. Lawless has managed each of the past three seasons with Lexington (2009), Lancaster (2010), and Corpus Christi (2011). He has nine years of managerial experience, bringing a career record of 617-763. He was acting manager for the RedHawks for three games, May 24-25 (included double-header).
Angel in the Infield-- Angel Sanchez is hitting .415 (22-for-53) over his last 15 games. He has hit safely in nine straight, and since the end of May he is batting .353.
Going Downs Town-- Since joining the RedHawks on August 11, Matt Downs is hitting .364 (12-for-33) with two homers and nine RBIs. He has recorded a hit in nine straight games and collected an RBI in seven contests.
Promising Pitching-- Although the pitching staff has largely struggled since the All-Star Break, it has vastly improved of late. Over the last 10 games the team ERA is 2.71 (28 ER/93 IP). The starters have turned in five quality starts and posted a combined 2.82 ERA (18 ER/57.1 IP) with 33 strikeouts and only 12 walks.
Bully! For The Pen-- Over the past six games, the RedHawks bullpen has posted a 1.59 ERA (4 ER/22.2 IP). They have been unscored upon in three games and have not allowed an earned run in 13.1 innings.
Keeping it in the Park-- The RedHawks pitching staff has allowed just two home runs over their last eight games, spanning 76 innings. Xavier Nady's solo shot last Thursday ended a streak of 51 innings without allowing a homer.
RISP-y Business-- The RedHawks held Round Rock 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position yesterday. Over the last 10 games, they have limited their opponents to a .144 average with runners in scoring position (18-for-125).
Tumbling From the Peak-- After a four-game sweep in Omaha on July 19 put the RedHawks at a season-best 18 games above .500 (58-40), they have gone 10-20 since. They've gone from leading the division by two games to dropping to third place and being 5.5 games back of first. They're only hitting .246 over the last 23 games (6-17).
Against the Express-- The RedHawks are 7-3 against Round Rock this season, including a 4-2 mark at The Dell Diamond...The RedHawks are hitting .306 and are averaging 6.4 runs per game...J.B. Shuck is hitting .429 and Angel Sanchez is at .371 with five RBIs...Round Rock's Julio Borbon is hitting .410 with two homers and Luis Hernandez is hitting .383 with two homers and six RBIs...They will play each other eight times over the final 17 games of the season.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 20, 2012
- Storm Chasers Fall to Nashville, 9-1 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Round Rock Express Edge Oklahoma City 2-1 - Round Rock Express
- Perez Silences RedHawks, 2-1 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Vargas Tosses Gem as Sounds Defeat Storm Chasers, 9-1 - Nashville Sounds
- Tucson Padres Announce 2013 Home Schedule - Tucson Padres
- KAT 103 to Broadcast Live from Werner Park, Tuesday at Lunch Time - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Rangers Reinstate Dempster; Option Martin - Round Rock Express
- Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks (68-60) - Round Rock Express
- Jake Odorizzi Selected as the PCL Pitcher of the Week - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Nanita, Odorizzi Honored For Big Weeks - PCL1
- RedHawks Game Notes: August 20, 2012 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Tucson and Fresno Split Doubleheader Sunday - Tucson Padres
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