PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: July 1, 2014

Published on July 1, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (45-40) vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox (35-49)

Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies

Game #86 of 144/Road #45 of 72 (25-20)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP David Martinez (5-5, 4.18) vs. COL-RHP Juan Nicasio (1-1, 6.35)

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 | Security Service Field | Colorado Springs, Colo. | 8:05 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The RedHawks look to keep their offense rolling and aim for a third straight win when they play Colorado Springs at 8:05 p.m. Central time at Security Service Field.

Last Game: For the second straight game the RedHawks reached 10 runs, and the strong offensive effort allowed them to overcome an early three-run deficit in a 10-6 win over Colorado Springs Monday night. For the fourth straight game, the opposition scored in the first inning and the Sky Sox built a 3-0 lead through two innings. The Sky Sox aided the RedHawks comeback in the third by committing two errors, leading to four unearned runs against pitcher Mike McClendon (1-1). Austin Wates singled home the first run, and an error on the next play allowed another to score. Domingo Santana tied the game with a RBI single, and Kiké Hernandez put the RedHawks in front with a RBI double. Both team scored in the fourth, making it 5-4. A two-run shot by Hernandez put the RedHawks in front, 7-4. Colorado Springs answered with a run before the RedHawks scored three more times in the seventh. Hernandez collected his third extra-base hit with a RBI double. Preston Tucker added a RBI groundout, and Matt Duffy followed with a RBI single to make it 10-5. A wild pitch by Alex White in the seventh allowed a run to score for the Sky Sox, but Jorge De Leon then held them scoreless over the final two innings. Oklahoma City starting pitcher Rudy Owens (4-4) recorded the win.

Today's Probable Pitcher: David Martinez (5-5) heads to the mound looking for his first win since May 23...He matched a season high with seven innings and allowed just two runs in his last start June 24 in Tacoma, but was charged with the loss after the RedHawks were shutout, 2-0. Martinez allowed five hits, with just one coming after the second inning. He set a season high with seven strikeouts and walked just one batter...Martinez has held opponents scoreless in three of his last six outings. All three of the scoreless appearances have been on the road, and although he's been in line for victory each time, he only has collected one win...This season he's excelled on the road, going 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA and is holding opponents to a .189 average. He's limited opponents to one or no runs in seven of 10 road outings. He's been even better of late. In his last four road games, he's posted a 0.76 ERA and is holding opponents to a .146 average...Martinez does a good job keeping the ball in the park, allowing just three homers in 71.0 IP this season...He was named the 2013 Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going a combined 14-4 with a 2.57 ERA between Double-A Corpus Christi and the RedHawks. He also named 2013 Texas League Pitcher of the Year.

Against the Sky Sox: 2014: 5-4 2013: 4-0 All-time: 73-51 At COL: 29-32

The teams split their most recent series in Bricktown May 10-13. The RedHawks closed out the series with back-to-back wins and have won 12 of the last 17 meetings between the teams...Six of the nine meetings this season have been decided by one or two runs (four by one run)...The teams split their first series of the season April 15-18 in Colorado Springs. It was an offensively-charged series, as the teams combined to score 58 runs (OKC--30, COL--28). In both of the Sky Sox's wins, they trailed entering their final at-bat...The RedHawks are 16-9 in Colorado Springs since 2004.

Big Three to Big Leagues: Earlier today, the Houston Astros called up Kevin Chapman, Kiké Hernandez, and Domingo Santana from the RedHawks. Santana is tied for second in the PCL with 97 hits, tied for third with 160 total bases, and tied for fourth with 36 extra-base hits. He also leads the RedHawks with 52 RBI and 49 runs scored...Hernandez ranks second in the PCL with a .337 average, and since he joined the RedHawks on April 17, he leads the PCL with 89 hits. Since June 11 (19 games), he's recorded 36 hits--the most by any player in the Majors or Minors...Chapman has allowed just one earned run since May 3 (22.1 IP). He's struck out 37 batters over 28.2 IP and is holding lefties to a .114 batting average...Jake Buchanan and Ryan McCurdy have been added to OKC's roster.

Getting Offensive: By scoring 10 runs in each of the past two games, the RedHawks reached double-digit runs totals in consecutive games for the second time this season. They last accomplished the feat May 23-24 in Memphis. They tallied 16 hits last night, giving them a two-game total of 33. It's the second-highest two-game total they've had, only behind the 37 they notched over those same two games in Memphis. One night after five players finished with a multi-hit game, six players finished with multi-hit games for the RedHawks Monday, led by Kiké Hernandez and Preston Tucker who had three each...OKC has scored in 10 of the last 16 innings.

June Boom: Kiké Hernandez's fifth-inning home run last night was the 32nd homer of the month for the RedHawks--their highest monthly total since hitting 33 in June 2012. The RedHawks also wrapped up June with a .302 team batting average (second in the PCL), which is their best monthly average since hitting .313 in July 2012. They finished the month with an even 14-14 record.

Tucker's Turnaround: With nine hits in the last four games, Preston Tucker surpassed his offensive output from his first 12 games with the RedHawks (eight hits) and has improved his batting average by 92 points. He's collected at least three hits in consecutive games for the first time since he did it in three straight last season with High-A Lancaster, May 20-23.

RBI Machine: Marc Krauss went 2-for-5 yesterday is now batting .400 (12x30) during his current eight-game hitting streak. He led the RedHawks in June with 21 RBI in just 23 games. He is hitting .341 overall and is batting .444 (12x27) with runners in scoring position, including 6-for-10 when there are two outs.

Robbie's Return: Robbie Grossman has hit safely in his three games since returning to the RedHawks Saturday, extending his hitting streak with Oklahoma City to 11 games. During the streak he's batting .367 (18x49) with five multi-hit games, six RBI, and nine runs.

RISPy Business: The RedHawks are 19-for-50 (.380) with runners in scoring position during the last four games after going just 4-for-38 (.105) with runners in scoring position over the five games prior.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Wednesday, July 2 8:05 p.m. @ Colo. Springs RHP Mike Foltynewicz (6-5, 4.40) LHP Brett Anderson (NR, -.--)

Thursday, July 3 8:05 p.m. @ Colo. Springs RHP Jake Buchanan (6-4, 3.54) LHP Pedro Hernandez (5-4, 6.34)

Friday, July 4 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 5.87) TBA

Saturday, July 5 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Nick Tropeano (6-4, 2.38) TBA

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 1, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central