PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: July 3, 2014

Published on July 3, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (45-42) vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox (37-49)

Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies

Game #88 of 144/Road #47 of 72 (25-22)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Jake Buchanan (6-4, 3.54) vs. COL-RHP Brett Tomko (5-3, 3.81)

Thursday, July 3, 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 close out their series in Colorado Springs trying to earn a split when they play at 8:05 p.m. Central time at Security Service Field. Oklahoma City is 7-4 in road series finales this season.

Last Game: Colorado Springs rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the RedHawks could not hang on to a late lead in a 7-5 loss Wednesday at Security Service Field. Once down 3-0, the RedHawks entered the bottom of the seventh with a 5-3 lead. The Sky Sox put runners at the corners before Rafael Ynoa hit into a double play and a run scored. Ben Paulsen and Kyle Parker each followed with two-out singles against Alex White (1-1). After Tim Wheeler walked, Angelys Nina hit a bases-clearing double to give the Sky Sox a 7-5 lead. The Sky Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second when Drew Garcia delivered a two-out RBI triple. In the fourth inning, Ynoa sent a ground ball to Marc Krauss at first base. Krauss could not handle it, and his error allowed both runners to score and make it 3-0. The RedHawks were able to even things up the in sixth. After Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar drew walks to start the inning, Krauss followed with a blast out to right field to tie the game. In his first game back with the RedHawks, Villar put OKC in the lead for the first time with a two-run single in seventh, making it 5-3. RedHawks starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was in line for a win but ended up with a no decision. He allowed three runs (one earned) and eight hits over six innings with five strikeouts and one walk.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Jake Buchanan (6-4) returns to the RedHawks after recently making his Major League debut...He last pitched Friday night in relief for the Astros and ended up earning his first ML win against Detroit. After working a perfect top of the 11th inning, Jason Castro hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning to give Houston and Buchanan a 4-3 win...Buchanan made his ML debut June 21 in a start at Tampa Bay. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five runs and eight hits with three walks and no strikeouts in Houston's 8-0 loss...Tonight he'll make his 14th start of the season with the RedHawks, trying for a team-leading seventh win...In his previous outing with OKC June 15 against Las Vegas, he earned his sixth win of the season. He pitched at least seven innings for the fourth time this season, allowing five runs and five hits, walking one and striking out four...The command specialist has allowed 10 walks with OKC and his 1.18 walks per nine innings leads the league. He has not issued a walk in seven of 13 Triple-A starts and currently owns a 4.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio...Buchanan was named RedHawks Pitcher of the Month for May. He went 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA over five starts, striking out 22 and walking just five. He began the month with three consecutive scoreless starts spanning 23.2 innings...In three career starts against Colorado Springs, Buchanan is 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA. In his last meeting with the Sky Sox on May 13 in OKC, he tossed 7.2 scoreless innings and led the way to a 1-0 victory.

Against the Sky Sox: 2014: 5-6 2013: 4-0 All-time: 73-53 At COL: 29-34

Eight of the 11 meetings this season have been decided by one or two runs (four by one run)...Each team has scored exactly 63 runs during the 2014 season series...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 19 meetings between the teams...The teams also 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 16-11 in Colorado Springs since 2004.

Hey Now, You're an All-Star: RedHawks pitcher Nick Tropeano, shortstop Gregorio Petit, and catcher Max Stassi have been named to the 2014 Cree Triple-A All-Star Game Wednesday, July 16 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. Tropeano ranks in the top three in the PCL in ERA (2.38), WHIP (0.95), and opponent average (.197). Petit is batting .301 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. Stassi has committed one error behind the plate all season and is tied for the best fielding percentage among PCL catchers.

More Honors: Earlier today the Houston Astros Player Development Staff named Nick Tropeano and Gregorio Petit the organization's Triple-A Pitcher and Player of the Month for June, respectively. In five starts, Tropeano was 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA. Petit led the RedHawks with a .370 average, tied for the team lead with five homers, and tied for second with 18 RBI.

Rough Road: The RedHawks have dropped six of their last seven road games. In three of the six losses, they've led in the seventh inning or later. Last night was also the fourth time in the past 10 road games they've lost when leading in the seventh or later. Oklahoma City started the season 24-16 in away games and is still tied for the league lead with 25 road wins.

Not Missing a Beat: Over the past six games, the RedHawks are batting .350 (76x217) and have scored 44 runs, tallying at least seven runs four times. They are also hitting .333 (24x72) with runners in scoring position over the same stretch.

Tucker's Turnaround: Preston Tucker is 11-for-26 (.423) during a current six-game hitting streak. He's collected seven RBI during the streak, and has driven in at least one run in five of the six games. During his first 12 games after getting promoted from Double-A, Tucker went 8-for-45 (.178) with two RBI.

Robbie's Return: Robbie Grossman went 3-for-3 with two walks, three stolen bases, and two runs scored last night. It's the second three-steal game of his career, and the first time he's done it since June 1, 2009 while playing for Low-A West Virginia vs. Lake County. He has hit safely in his five games since returning to the RedHawks last Saturday, extending his hitting streak with Oklahoma City to 13 games. During the stretch, he's batting .393 (22x56) with six multi-hit games, eight RBI, and 11 runs.

Hard Times on the Hill: Over the past 14 games, the pitching staff has a 5.40 ERA (75 ER/125.0 IP), allowing at least seven runs seven times, while allowing three or fewer runs just twice. During this stretch, the starting rotation has a 5.68 ERA (48 ER/76.0 IP) and has only produced four quality starts. The team's 4.02 season ERA is the highest it's been since it stood at 4.03 on May 4.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Friday, July 4 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 5.87) LHP Eric Jokisch (5-8, 4.41)

Saturday, July 5 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Nick Tropeano (6-4, 2.38) LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (9-4, 2.55)

Sunday, July 6 6:05 p.m. Iowa LHP Rudy Owens (4-4, 5.45) RHP Kyle Hendricks (10-5, 3.58)

Monday, July 7 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP David Martinez (5-6, 4.92) TBA

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