PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: August 27, 2014

Published on August 27, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (73-66) vs. Albuquerque Isotopes (59-78)

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game #140 of 144/Home #72 of 72 (37-34)

Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Rudy Owens (8-5, 4.52) vs. ALB-RHP Jeff Bennett (8-6, 3.95)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | 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 close out the home portion of their regular season schedule and try for a fifth straight win at 7:05 p.m. against Albuquerque. The RedHawks moved into sole possession of first place in the American Northern Division last night, and now own a one-game lead on second-place Omaha.

Last Game: The RedHawks tallied 10 runs between the third and fourth innings on their way to a 13-6 win against Albuquerque Tuesday in Bricktown. A RBI double by Matt Duffy in the first inning gave the RedHawks a 1-0 lead. Albuquerque's Alex Guerrero tied the game in the second with a solo homer, and the Isotopes added a run in the third to take a 2-1 lead. OKC took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame, scoring six runs on six hits. Preston Tucker, Duffy, and Domingo Santana hit three consecutive RBI singles to score three runs. An Albuquerque throwing error brought home the fourth run of the inning. Carlos Perez and Max Stassi added two more RBI singles for a 7-2 advantage. The Isotopes scored twice in the fourth inning, including Guerrero's second homer. RedHawks reliever Ross Seaton entered the game with the bases loaded and one out and prevented the Isotopes from getting closer. The RedHawks added four runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 11-4 lead. Later with OKC leading, 13-4, Albuquerque scored twice in the top of the ninth, featuring Joc Pederson's league-leading 33rd home run of the season. Seaton (1-1) earned the win after tossing 3.2 scoreless innings of long relief.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Rudy Owens (8-5) tries for his ninth win of the season and a fourth straight quality start...He started Friday against El Paso in Bricktown. He allowed three runs and six hits over six innings, with two walks and six strikeouts in a no decision...Over his last three starts, Owens has allowed a total of four runs and 12 hits over 21 innings, posting a 1.71 ERA and a .171 opponent average...He has won three of his last four starts, going 3-0 during that time...The lefty leads all Astros minor leaguers in innings (127.1). He also leads the team with 20 starts, ranks second with eight wins, and third with 95 strikeouts. Owens has won six of his last 11 starts and has pitched at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts...Owens has been recalled to Houston twice this year. He made his Major League debut May 23 in Seattle and returned to the RedHawks a few days later...Owens was named RedHawks Pitcher of the Month for April after going 2-0 with a 3.95 ERA over seven appearances (four starts)...His took the loss in his only previous career appearance against Albuquerque on April 22, 2013 at Isotopes Park (4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K).

Against the Isotopes : 2014: 3-0 2013: 11-5 All-time: 96-82 At OKC: 57-33

The RedHawks have won 15 of their last 16 home games against Albuquerque, including the last 10 straight...After meeting each other 16 times per season annually since 2003, this is the first and only series of 2014 between the teams due to divisional realignment. The RedHawks and Isotopes were both members of the American Southern Division from 2005-2013. One of the two teams won the division in five of the last six seasons...The RedHawks went 11-5 against Albuquerque last season and won each of the final seven games, all in OKC...Including this year, the RedHawks have finished with winning records at home against the Isotopes nine times in 12 seasons.

The Climb: After a loss in Round Rock on Aug. 1, the RedHawks were five games out of first place. Since then they've gone 17-7 and have taken sole possession of first place for the first time since June 11. The RedHawks have won 10 of their last 13 games, including five of the last six. At 17-8, they own the second-best record in the PCL this month (Memphis - 18-8), and their 17 wins are the most they've accumulated in a single month this season.

Streaking Sclafani: Joe Sclafani matched his season high with three walks last night and extended his on-base streak to 40 consecutive games. It's the longest streak in the PCL since 2012, when Reno's Jake Elmore reached base in 46 straight games. During the streak, Sclafani is batting .358 with a .450 on-base percentage...Sclafani has hit safely in 24 of his last 28 games, batting .388 (40x103) with 18 RBI and 23 runs...He has gone hitless in back-to-back starts for the first time since July 5-6.

Hot Weather, Hot Bats: The RedHawks lead the PCL and all of the Minors with a .320 batting average in August. The RedHawks have scored at least five runs in 18 of their 25 games this month and have notched 10 or more runs four times. They've also recorded at least 10 hits in a game 17 times. Their 163 runs this month lead the league, and they've put up the high run total despite hitting just 15 home runs, the second-fewest in the league.

Nip and Tuck: Preston Tucker has recorded 29 RBI this month, a total that ranks second in the PCL (Carlos Peguero, Omaha - 30). It's also the highest RBI total by a RedHawk in a single month since Nate Gold collected 32 in August 2007. Tucker has eight multi-RBI games this month alone, including five games with three or more RBI. He leads the Astros farm system with 93 RBI this season.

Duff Man: Last night Matt Duffy collected his fourth straight multi-hit game, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI. During his current six-game hitting streak, Duffy is 14-for-26 with nine runs, five RBI, and five multi-hit games. He is batting .371 with 17 RBI this month.

Santo Domingo: Over the last six games, Domingo Santana is 9-for-18 with 10 RBI. During the current series, Santana is 4-for-6 with four walks and has reached base in nine of 13 plate appearances. Two of the times he did not reach base he hit sacrifice flies.

Rockin' Ronny: Ronny Torreyes has not struck out in 107 consecutive plate appearances and is the hardest player to strike out in the PCL (one per 21.6 PA), and the second-hardest in all of the Minors (Willians Astudillo, Low-A Lakewood - 22.3 PA/K)...Torreyes has 20 sacrifice bunts this season and is tied for the PCL modern era single-season record with Alex Cintron (Tucson, 2001).

Pitching Prowess: The pitching staff has posted a 2.64 ERA (39 ER/133.0 IP) and held opponents to a .226 average (109x482) during their last 15 games. In eight of the 15 contests, they have allowed two or fewer runs...Over the last 16 games, the starting rotation has a 2.61 ERA (28 ER/96.2 IP), while holding opponents to a .223 average (78x350). They've compiled 84 strikeouts against 29 walks over 96.2 IP and turned in 12 quality starts, including six starts of seven or more innings...The team's 3.60 ERA this month is tops in the PCL.

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