PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: July 4, 2014

Published on July 4, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (45-43) vs. Iowa Cubs (47-39)

Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs

Game #89 of 144/Home #41 of 72 (20-20)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 5.87) vs. IOW-LHP Eric Jokisch (5-8, 4.41)

Friday, July 4, 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 host an Independence Day Celebration at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark when they play the Iowa Cubs at 7:05 p.m. Fireworks will follow the game. Tonight marks the first meeting of the season between the PCL American Northern Division foes and opens a seven-game homestand for the RedHawks. Division leader Iowa owns a three-game lead on Oklahoma City.

Last Game: Colorado Springs took an early lead, then closed out the game with four unanswered runs in a 6-2 win against the RedHawks Thursday at Security Service Field. The Sky Sox built a 2-0 lead in the first inning, as RedHawks starting pitcher Jake Buchanan threw 41 pitches in the frame. After the first inning, Buchanan (6-5) responded by retiring 10 of the next 11 batters he faced. Oklahoma City's lone runs of the night scored in the third. With runners at second and third, Jonathan Villar hit a RBI single to cut the Sky Sox lead to 2-1. Marc Krauss then drove in a run to tie the game, 2-2. The score remained tied until Colorado Springs grabbed the lead again in the sixth. Kyle Parker led off with a single, then scored on triple to right field by Tim Wheeler. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly by Jackson Williams brought home Wheeler for a 4-2 lead. The Sky Sox added two more runs in the seventh. Rafael Ynoa singled to lead off the inning, then scored on a Ben Paulsen double. With two outs, Angelys Nina drove in his second run of the night when he connected on a single for a four-run lead. Brett Tomko (6-3) held the RedHawks to two runs and six hits over six innings in the win.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Asher Wojciechowski makes his fifth start in a season marred by injuries...Wojciechowski tied his longest outing of the season June 28 against Omaha, pitching four innings. He allowed a season-high five runs (four earned) and nine hits in his first loss. It marked the most runs and hits he had allowed in 13 career games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark...He missed the beginning of the season after suffering a strained lat muscle Feb. 1 while throwing a bullpen session. Shortly after his season debut in New Orleans on May 21, Wojciechowski sustained a right forearm flexor strain, prompting him to be sidelined again. He returned to action June 18 in Reno...Since returning from the flexor strain, Wojciechowski has struggled a bit, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) and 19 hits over 11.1 IP...Last season he combined to go 11-8 with a 3.32 ERA and 131 strikeouts between Double-A Corpus Christi and the RedHawks. He led all Astros minor leaguers with a .223 opponent batting average and 160.0 IP...He spent the majority of the season with the RedHawks, going 9-7 with a 3.56 ERA over 22 games. He paced the club with 21 starts, 134.0 IP, nine wins and 104 strikeouts...He ranked second in the PCL in opponent average (.229), third in WHIP (1.19) and seventh in ERA (3.56)...Wojciechowski faced Iowa three times in 2013, going 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA. He won both of his starts at home, allowing just four runs and 10 hits over 11.2 IP.

Against the I-Cubs: 2014: 0-0 2013: 8-8 All-time: 106-115 In OKC: 58-52

Tonight is the first meeting between the teams. In 2011, they also did not open their season series until July 4 in OKC...The teams split their 2013 series, 8-8. Oklahoma City won the final five meetings between the teams and swept their last series in Bricktown July 26-29, 2013...Nine games between the teams were decided by one run last season (OKC went 5-4)...The RedHawks have won 20 of the last 24 meetings between the teams in OKC over the last three seasons...The RedHawks went a combined 22-10 against Iowa in 2011 and 2012 before splitting last season's series. Iowa last won a season series against Oklahoma City in 2010.

Let Freedom Ring with a Win: The RedHawks have won five of their last six Independence Day games, including the last the last three straight. They are 5-9 all-time in July 4 games, and are 3-4 in Oklahoma City (OKC's home July 4 games in 2009 and 2010 were rained out). The RedHawks are 1-2 against the I-Cubs on July 4.

Homecoming: The RedHawks play 15 of their next 19 games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and host those 15 home games in a span of 21 days, including the All-Star Break July 14-16. The RedHawks are 20-20 in Bricktown this season and are trying to move above .500 at home for the first time since they improved to 3-2 April 24 after a 6-1 win against Nashville.

Hey Now, You're an All-Star: Yesterday RedHawks pitcher Nick Tropeano, shortstop Gregorio Petit, and catcher Max Stassi were named to the 2014 Cree Triple-A All-Star Game on 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.

Robbie's Return: Robbie Grossman has hit safely in his six games since returning to the RedHawks on June 28, going 9-for-22. He's now on a 14-game hitting streak with Oklahoma City, tying him with Gregorio Petit for the longest hitting streak by a RedHawks player this season. Grossman is batting .390 (23x59) with six multi-hit games, eight RBI and 12 runs during the streak. He has reached base in nine of his last 11 plate appearances (five hits, two walks, two HBP).

Heavy Wates: Austin Wates went 2-for-4 Thursday and has hit safely in five of his last six games, going 9-for-21 (.429) with four multi-hit games and six RBI. He's also drawn six walks during this stretch, producing a .556 on-base percentage.

Highs and Lows: After taking three of four during a series in Reno June 17-20, the RedHawks' record stood at a season-best eight games above .500 (42-34). Since then they've lost nine of 12 games. A loss tonight would put them at just one game above .500 for the first time since they were 16-15 after a loss on May 4 in Omaha.

Hard Times on the Hill: Over the past 15 games, the pitching staff has a 5.48 ERA (81 ER/133.0 IP), allowing at least seven runs seven times, while allowing three or fewer runs just twice. During this stretch, the starting rotation has a 5.71 ERA (52 ER/82.0 IP) and has only produced four quality starts. The team's 4.05 season ERA is the highest it's been since it stood at 4.11 on May 1.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Saturday, July 5 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Paul Clemens (3-0, 1.38) TBA

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

Tuesday, July 8 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP Mike Foltynewicz (6-5, 4.20) TBA

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