RedHawks Game Notes: July 5, 2014
Published on July 5, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (46-43) vs. Iowa Cubs (47-40)
Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs
Game #90 of 144/Home #42 of 72 (21-20)
Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Paul Clemens (3-0, 1.38) vs. IOW-RHP Carlos Pimentel (1-4, 4.79)
Saturday, July 5, 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 aim to win three straight home games for the first time this season when they play the Iowa Cubs at 7:05 p.m. The RedHawks trail division-leading Iowa by two games. There will be a special additional postgame fireworks show for those who were unable to make it to the ballpark last night.
Last Game: Jonathan Villar hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning to cap a four-run rally by the RedHawks in a 4-3 win over Iowa Friday night in front of a season-high crowd of 11,856 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Down 3-0 to start the eighth inning, the first three RedHawks batters reached base to load the bases. With one out, a RBI single by Joe Sclafani put the RedHawks on the board, and Ronny Torreyes drove in another run on a fielder's choice. Then with the bases loaded again, Villar connected on a two-run single for a 4-3 RedHawks lead. Jason Stoffel (2-2) and Kevin Chapman (SV, 3) combined to hold the I-Cubs scoreless in the ninth and close out win. The I-Cubs built a 3-0 lead as starting pitcher Eric Jokisch faced the minimum and held the RedHawks to two hits through seven scoreless frames. Iowa's Javy Baez belted the first pitch he saw over the LED board in left field for a 1-0 lead. Iowa added a run in the second on a RBI single by Rafael Lopez. Kris Bryant gave Iowa a 3-0 edge in the fourth with a solo homer into the visiting bullpen. The RedHawks pitching staff allowed just two hits after the fourth inning--both by Bryant--and retired 19 of the final 22 Iowa batters.
Today's Probable Pitcher: Paul Clemens (3-0) makes his fourth start and eighth appearance of the season for the RedHawks...Clemens' last outing was June 28 against Omaha, pitching four innings out of the bullpen. He allowed a two runs and six hits, walked one and struck out two in the no decision...Clemens began the season with the RedHawks, and he has been recalled to Houston four different times already this season. He was most recently optioned to OKC on June 21...He's made seven appearances with the RedHawks, including three starts, holding PCL opponents to four runs and 19 hits over 26.0 IP. Between April 8-June 11, he had a streak of 17 consecutive scoreless innings...PCL opponents are batting .202 against him and he's held them 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position (went 0 for first 17)...He combined with Mike Foltynewicz to one-hit Omaha May 5 at Werner Park, tossing three perfect innings to earn his first save since July 22, 2010 in the 5-1 victory...Clemens has appeared in 12 games with Houston this season, all in relief, going 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA.
Against the I-Cubs: 2014: 1-0 2013: 8-8 All-time: 107-115 In OKC: 59-52
Oklahoma City has won six straight games against Iowa...Friday's win marked the third straight game between the teams decided by a 4-3 score...The teams split their 2013 series, 8-8. OKC 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 21 of the last 25 meetings at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark...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.
Comeback Kids: Last night marked the seventh time this season the RedHawks won after overcoming a deficit of at least three runs. In fact, three of their last four wins have come in this fashion, and they faced a two-run deficit in the other victory during that stretch...By contrast, the RedHawks have only lost three times this season when leading by at least three runs.
Fireworks On and Off the Field: Tonight the RedHawks will have a special additional postgame fireworks show. Including last night, the RedHawks have won on each of their past five fireworks nights, with the go-ahead and/or winning run scoring in the eighth inning or later four times. Three of the team's five walk-off wins this season have been on fireworks nights, including both walk-off homers.
Over the Hump at Home: The RedHawks improved to 21-20 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark with Friday's win, moving above .500 for the first time since April 24 when they improved to 3-2 after a 6-1 win against Nashville. They have won three of their last four home games, as well as five of their last seven. Oklahoma City is in the midst of a stretch of playing 15 of 19 games in Bricktown.
Robbie's Return: Robbie Grossman has hit safely in his seven games since returning to the RedHawks on June 28, going 10-for-25 (.400). He's now on a 15-game hitting streak with Oklahoma City, giving him the longest hitting streak by a RedHawks player this season, as well as the longest active streak in the PCL (also tied for fourth-longest in the league this season). Grossman is batting .387 (24x62) with six multi-hit games, eight RBI and 12 runs during the streak. He has reached base in 11 of his last 15 plate appearances (six hits, three walks, two HBP).
Heavy Wates: Austin Wates went 1-for-3 Friday and has hit safely in six of his last seven games, going 10-for-24 (.417) with four multi-hit games and six RBI. He's also drawn six walks during this stretch, producing a .533 on-base percentage.
All-Star Trio: RedHawks pitcher Nick Tropeano, shortstop Gregorio Petit, and cater Max Stassi were recently named to the 2014 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 16 in Durham, N.C. It's the first time three RedHawks made the All-Star Game since 2010.
Mound Turnaround?: Friday marked just the second time in a nine-game span the RedHawks allowed less than five runs in a game. Over the past 16 games, the pitching staff has a 5.32 ERA (84 ER/142.0 IP), allowing at least seven runs seven times, while allowing three or fewer runs just three times. During this stretch, the starting rotation has a 5.69 ERA (55 ER/87.0 IP) and has only produced four quality starts.
Packed House: Last night's attendance of 11,856 was the largest under Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark's current configuration as well as the largest crowd overall since July 4, 2008 vs. Iowa (13,066).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER
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
Wednesday, July 9 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP Jake Buchanan (6-5, 3.72) TBA
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 5, 2014
- Omaha Squanders Late Scoring Chances in 5-2 Loss - Omaha Storm Chasers
- RedHawks win over Iowa - Oklahoma City Comets
- Salt Lake wins over Chihuahuas - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Express Edges Nashville 4-3 To Level Series - Round Rock Express
- Sounds Fall to Express, 4-3 - Nashville Sounds
- Redbirds Score Early to Win Third Straight - Memphis Redbirds
- Zephyrs Fall to Memphis 6-3 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Chicago Cubs Recall Chris Rusin - Iowa Cubs
- Isotopes Throttle 51s 11-3 in Game One of Doubleheader - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks Game Notes: July 5, 2014 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Bees Raise Money for Honor Flight - Salt Lake Bees
- RHP Steve Smith Rejoins Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Edwin Escobar Roughed Up In Loss To Tacoma - Fresno Grizzlies
- Cats Cut Aces, Win 6-4 on July 4 - Sacramento River Cats
- Omaha Falls 6-1 in Front of Sellout Crowd - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Cubs Can't Close out Jokisch's Gem - Iowa Cubs
- El Paso Prevails over Bees on Independence Day - Salt Lake Bees
- Sounds Derail Express, 4-0 - Nashville Sounds
- River Cats Spoil Fourth Festivities in Reno - Reno Aces
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