RedHawks Game Notes: August 31, 2013
Published on August 31, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (80-61) vs. Memphis Redbirds (68-73)
Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Game #142 of 144/Home #71 of 73 (45-25)
Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP David Martinez (0-1, 4.50) vs. MEM-RHP Scott McGregor (5-10, 4.85)
Saturday, August 31, 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 playoff-bound RedHawks continue their final home series of the regular season at 7:05 p.m. against the Memphis Redbirds. Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the series Friday as the Redbirds try to secure a playoff berth.
Last Game: Memphis won the series opener between the teams, 4-0, Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. A RBI single by Jamie Romak gave the Redbirds a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Memphis added three runs in the seventh inning, all with two outs, to take a 4-0 lead. Marc Krauss led the RedHawks with two hits, including his 15th double of the season with Oklahoma City. Memphis starting pitcher Richard Castillo (1-2) recorded his first win of the season with the Redbirds. He allowed four hits in five shutout innings. Pitchers Tyler Lyons and Jose Almarante continued the shutout and Keith Butler recorded his second save for the Redbirds. RedHawks starter Jake Buchanan (5-5) allowed three runs and eight hits over 6.2 innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out six in the loss.
Today's Probable Pitcher: After a brief amount of time in the Major Leagues, David Martinez makes his first start since rejoining the RedHawks...His last outing was Monday against the Chicago White Sox. He earned his first Major League win in Chicago, allowing three runs and five hits over 2.2 innings of relief...He was optioned back to OKC Aug. 28 after a total of two appearances with the Astros (5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 K)...In his most recent game with the RedHawks Aug. 16, he allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits against Albuquerque. He struck out six over 5.2 innings in Bricktown and did not figure in the decision...Earlier this week, Martinez was named 2013 Texas League Pitcher of the Year. He had a stellar campaign with Double-A Corpus Christi, going 14-2 with a 2.02 ERA. At the time of his promotion, Martinez's ERA and 1.00 WHIP both paced the Texas League. His 129.1 IP was fourth in the league and his 1.3 walks per nine innings was second-lowest...His 14 wins established a new single-season record for Corpus Christi and is currently tied for third-most overall in the Minors...His combined 2.20 ERA leads all Astros minor leaguers and is 10th overall in the Minors...The Texas League All-Star was named Corpus Christi Pitcher of the Month for both June and July.
Against the Redbirds: 2013: 7-6 2012: 8-8 All-time: 132-121 In OKC: 76-48
The road team improved to 10-3 in the season series with Memphis' 4-0 win Friday...Memphis is 4-1 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark this season after also winning the first series between the teams in Oklahoma City April 12-15...In each of the previous three series between the teams this season, the road team has won three of four games...The RedHawks and Redbirds have each scored 68 runs in the season series to date...Oklahoma City is batting .291 through the first 13 meetings...Brandon Laird is hitting .385 with two homers and 13 RBI...In just eight games against Memphis, Marc Krauss has belted three homers and collected 11 RBI...If the RedHawks split this series, they will win the season series for the first time since 2007 (10-6).
Goose Egged: The RedHawks were shut out Friday for the first time since a 9-0 loss in the first game of a doubleheader against New Orleans July 12 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark -- a span of 46 games. The shutout loss was Oklahoma City's eighth of the season.
Crown 'Em: On Tuesday, the RedHawks clinched their first PCL division title since 2010 and their seventh division championship since joining the league in 1998. OKC will play the winner of the American Northern Division in a best-of-five series, starting Sept. 4-5 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Memphis is currently tied with Omaha for the Northern Division lead.
80's Weekend: The RedHawks own an 80-61 record and are just the fourth squad in team history to reach at least 80 wins in a season. The RedHawks last reached the 80-win milestone in 2005. The 2004 team won 81 games and the 1999 RedHawks won a club-record 83 games. Oklahoma City is also tied with Las Vegas for the best record in the PCL.
The Quest for 40/40: George Springer went 1-for-4 with a stolen base last night and has hit safely in five of his last six games (10-for-24). He needs to hit three home runs over the final three games to become the first Minor League player with a 40/40 season since Len Tucker of the unaffiliated Class B Pampa Oilers in 1956 (51 HR/47 SB). He ranks second in the Minors with 37 homers overall, trailing only Joey Gallo of the Class-A Hickory Crawdads (38), who hit three home runs Friday, for the MiLB Joe Baumann Home Run Award. Springer has already joined Ruben Rivera and Darryl Strawberry as the only minor leaguers over the past 40 years with at least 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season. He has collected 107 RBI (second in the Minors) and scored 106 runs (fourth in the Minors) overall this season. Fellow Astros farmhand Andrew Aplin of High-A Lancaster is only other player to collect 100 of each this year.
August Exit: Entering their final game of August, the RedHawks are 18-11 so far this month and have tied their highest monthly win total of the season (July). The team has not won 19 games in a month since going 19-10 in June, 2007. They have hit 20 home runs in August, marking the third straight month with at least 20 dingers. Oklahoma City is hitting .269 as a team with a 4.60 ERA this month. Brandon Laird and George Springer have each collected 23 RBI, tied for second-most in the PCL (Zach Lutz, Las Vegas - 24).
RISPy Business: The RedHawks went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position last night, marking the second time in three games they went hitless in at least eight at bats with runners in scoring position (0-for-8 Wednesday). They are batting just .143 with runners in scoring position during the current homestand (8x57) and .155 over their past nine games (13x84).
Dinger Dearth: Although the RedHawks have not homered in any of the five games during the current homestand, they've only allowed two home runs in that same amount of time (both solo HR), including none over the last three nights. Their 103 home runs this season is second-least in the PCL, but the 103 home runs they've allowed is third-least.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER
Sunday, September 1 6:05 p.m. Memphis TBA RHP Boone Whiting (5-5, 4.33)
Monday, September 2 11:05 a.m. Memphis TBA RHP Eric Fornataro (1-4, 6.61)
***End of Regular Season***
Wednesday, Sept. 3 7:05 p.m. Home TBA American Conference Finals, Game 1
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 31, 2013
- Redbirds Come out Swinging, Win 7-3 in Oklahoma City - Memphis Redbirds
- Sounds Treat South Nashville to 7-2 Win - Nashville Sounds
- Big First Inning by Memphis Dooms RedHawks - Oklahoma City Comets
- Zs Put Topes Offense To Bed - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Zephyrs Rally in Eighth to Beat Isotopes, 3-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- RedHawks Game Notes: August 31, 2013 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Withrow Rejoins Isotopes; Castro to Disabled List - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Brown's 2 RBIs Secure Comeback Win - Fresno Grizzlies
- 6-4 Win Keeps Pace in the Division Race - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Rainiers Rough Up Sacramento, 7-1 - Tacoma Rainiers
- River Cats Fall 7-1 in Tacoma - Sacramento River Cats
- Tucson beats Las Vegas - Tucson Padres
- I-Cubs Eliminated from Playoff Race - Iowa Cubs
- Aces Win Series Opener, 5-4 - Reno Aces
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