RedHawks Game Notes: August 29, 2012
Published on August 29, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Albuquerque Isotopes (77-61) vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks (73-64)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros
Game #138 of 143/Home #66 of 71 (40-25)
Pitching Probables: ALB-LH Derrick Loop (11-3, 4.95) vs. OKC-RH Edgar Gonzalez (3-3, 4.96)
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla.| 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)
Thursday, August 30 vs. Albuquerque (LAD): OKC-LH Brett Oberholtzer (5-7, 4.81) vs. ALB-RH Fernando Nieve (7-8, 6.17) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Friday, August 31 vs. Round Rock (TEX): OKC-LH Rudy Owens (1-3, 4.76) vs. RR-LH Martin Perez (7-6, 4.24) - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Saturday, September 1 vs. Round Rock (TEX): OKC-RH Jarred Cosart (1-2, 3.32) vs. RR-TBA - 7:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Sunday, September 2 vs. Round Rock (TEX): OKC-RH Jose Cisnero (3-1, 4.28) vs. RR-TBA - 6:05 p.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Monday, September 3 vs. Round Rock (TEX): OKC-RH Edgar Gonzalez (3-3, 4.96) vs. RR-TBA - 11:05 a.m., KGHM-AM 1340, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio
Tonight's Game-- The RedHawks will attempt to continue their late playoff push and inch closer to the first-place Albuquerque Isotopes when they square off at 7:05 p.m.
Last Night-- The RedHawks erupted in the seventh inning for five runs and then triumphed in a late back-and-forth battle over the Isotopes, 6-5. Albuquerque starting pitcher John Ely was perfect through six innings, retiring all 18 batters he faced. Ely and the Isotopes had a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. J.B. Shuck led off the inning with a solid single to left field. After an error by Jerry Sands, Matt Downs then sent the first pitch from Ely into the RedHawks bullpen for a game-tying home run. After Mike Hessman walked and J.D. Martinez flied out, Matt Dominguez smashed a line drive into the bleachers in left field to put the RedHawks in the lead, 5-3. Albuquerque tied the game in the eighth, but the RedHawks responded in the bottom of the inning. They turned a leadoff walk from Blake Johnson (3-1) to Brad Snyder into a run after a sac fly by J.D. Martinez. Jose Valdez retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to earn his 20th save.
Tonight's Probable Pitchers-- Edgar Gonzalez makes his first start in Oklahoma City after a stellar team debut Friday...Gonzalez fired six strong innings against Iowa, allowing two runs (one earned) and two hits...He retired the first nine hitters as well as the final six...Both runs allowed came in the fourth, mostly due to two errors, and outside of that inning, he retired 15 of 16 I-Cubs...Gonzalez started the season with Colorado Springs, going 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA...He had most recently been playing with the Monterrey Sultans of the Mexican League...During the regular season he was 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA over six starts and then went 1-1 in the playoffs...He signed with the Astros shortly after his team was eliminated...Gonzalez suited up for Albuquerque for four starts in 2010...Although he has not faced the Isotopes since 2006, Gonzalez has won all four starts against Albuquerque in his career, posting a 1.98 ERA and striking out 29 over 27.1 IP...Lefty Derrick Loop will start for the Isotopes...Loop is coming off a rough outing in Memphis on Friday, allowing six runs and five hits over just three innings (ND)...He spent most of this season in the bullpen, but joined the rotation in July...Loop's ERA as a starter is about two runs higher than it is out of the bullpen...He has also struggled on the road, posting a 6.06 ERA...In his last two road starts, Loop has allowed 15 runs and 13 hits over seven innings...He has pitched well against the RedHawks, going 1-0 over four appearances, allowing four runs and 10 hits over 10 innings.
Climbing Back-- Since losing 10 straight games, the RedHawks have gone 10-5. They have pulled within 3.5 games of first place, making it the closest they've been since August 7.
No Sweat After Six-- Eight of the RedHawks' last nine wins have come with them either tied or trailing in the seventh inning. (Tied-4, Trail-4)
Tense 12-- 11 of the RedHawks' last 12 games have been decided by three runs or less, with seven of those decided
by two runs or less.
Fabulous Forty-- Yesterday the RedHawks became the fifth team in the PCL to reach at least 40 home wins. Three of the five teams hail from the American Southern Division.
Busting Out-- The RedHawks have scored 12 runs and notched 19 hits over the last two nights. They had scored 10 runs with 22 hits total over their previous four games. Monday's 15 hits was also their highest hit total since a 16-hit attack against Iowa on July 24.
Power's Back On-- The RedHawks have hit have hit five home runs over the last three games. They had hit just 11 homers over the first 24 games of the month.
Bases Loaded Bashers-- The RedHawks are 2-for-4 with the bases loaded this series, raising their season average to .376, the second-best mark in the league. (Omaha is tops at .379.) Brad Snyder had been 0-for-6 with the bases full until going 2-for-2 on Monday.
Closing Time-- Last night Jose Valdez joined Jose Veras (2005) as just the second pitcher in team history to record at least 20 saves in a season. Valdez's 29 saves the last two years has also set a RedHawks career record.
Promising Pitching-- Although the pitching staff struggled a lot following the All-Star Break, it has vastly improved of late. Over the last 19 games the team ERA is 2.86 (54 ER/170 IP). The starters have turned in 11 quality starts and posted a combined 2.63 ERA (32 ER/109.2 IP) with 75 strikeouts and 31 walks.
Keeping it in the Park-- The RedHawks have allowed just six dingers over the last 17 contests, spanning 153 IP.
Against the Isotopes-- The RedHawks have beaten the Isotopes in consecutive games for the first time this season...Albuquerque still owns the season series at 9-5 after taking three of four in each of the first three series...The Isotopes have outscored the RedHawks 92-80 and are batting .335 as a team, slugging 19 homers...Brad Snyder has led the way for the RedHawks, hitting .406 with two homers and 10 RBIs...Landon Powell has driven in nine over 10 contests.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 29, 2012
- 'Topes Routed by RedHawks, 11-0 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks Rout Isotopes, 11-0 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sacramento Steals 4-3 Win with 9th Inning Rally - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Omaha Slugs Memphis - Memphis Redbirds
- Omaha Bounces Back to Beat Memphis - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Round Rock Express Cruise Past New Orleans 10-6 - Round Rock Express
- River Cats Clinch Record Sixth-Straight Division Crown - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Blank I-Cubs for Fourth Straight Victory - Nashville Sounds
- Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. New Orleans Zephyrs - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks Game Notes: August 29, 2012 - Oklahoma City Comets
- RedHawks, Hertz to Honor Reverend Bill Greason Tomorrow - Oklahoma City Comets
- John Ely Named PCL Pitcher of the Year - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Ely Earns 2012 PCL Pitcher of the Year - PCL1
- Aces Foundation, JAKKS Pacific to Donate 15,000 Toys to Northern Nevada Children - Reno Aces
- Sounds to Welcome Goodlettsville Little League U.S. Champions to Greer Saturday - Nashville Sounds
- Isotopes hampered by 'Hawks - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Fresno Hands Aces 4-3 Loss in 12 Innings - Reno Aces
- Tucson wins victory - Tucson Padres
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