PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: July 7, 2013

July 7, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (48-41) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (43-47)

Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins

Game #90 of 144/Road #47 of 72 (23-23)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Asher Wojceichowski (4-4, 3.45) vs. NEW-RHP Jared Rogers (3-2, 5.88)

Sunday, July 7, 2013 | Zephyr Field | Metairie, La. | 6 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: Oklahoma City and New Orleans close out their four-game series at 6 p.m. in the teams' final meeting at Zephyr Field this season. The RedHawks are seeking to win a second-consecutive road series and third-straight series overall.

Last Game: Carlos Perez capped a late comeback with a game-winning home run, and George Springer went deep twice as the Oklahoma City RedHawks defeated New Orleans, 6-5, Saturday night. Trailing 5-3 in the eighth, the RedHawks tied the game with RBIs by Jonathan Villar and Brandon Laird. Perez then led off the ninth inning with a home run to left field to give Oklahoma City the lead. New Orleans led most of the night, but the RedHawks took the first lead of the game on a two-run homer from George Springer in the first inning. Springer also hit a solo shot in the fourth. The Zephyrs scored in each of the first four innings, tallying five runs and seizing the lead. RedHawks starting pitcher Jarred Cosart had a rare off night, allowing five runs over 5.1 innings and giving up a season-high seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Jason Stoffel earned the win for Oklahoma City to improve to 3-0, and Josh Zeid earned his 10th save of the season.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Asher Wojciechowski looks to capture wins in back-to-back starts for the first time this season...He is just 1.0 IP shy of qualifying for the league leaders, but his 3.45 ERA would rank fifth, and his 1.21 WHIP and .215 opponent average would each rank third in the PCL...Wojciechowski settled into his last start Tuesday against Albuquerque after a rough first inning during which he issued three straight walks and then surrendered a two-out bases-clearing double. Over his final five innings held the Isotopes scoreless with just two hits. Although he walked a career-high six batters, he went on to grab the win after the RedHawks overcame the 3-0 deficit and won 4-3...Coming into tonight, Wojciechowksi has turned in quality start in five of his last seven outings...In his previous start against the Zephyrs June 21, he tossed his first career complete game, albeit in a loss. He went a career-high eight innings, allowing three runs and six hits. He struck out seven batters without any walks, throwing 103 pitches, including 76 for strikes.

Against the Zephyrs: 2013: 7-4 2012: 8-8 All-time: 128-116 In NEW: 59-56

The Zephyrs have scored at least four runs each of the past two nights after being held to three or less in seven of the first nine games. In five of their meetings, the Zephyrs have scored one or no runs...Oklahoma City has outscored New Orleans, 46-33, this season and the RedHawks pitching staff has a combined 2.90 ERA and limited the Zephyrs to a .215 average...Oklahoma City split a four-game series with the Zephyrs during their last trip to New Orleans, June 18-21. In each of the first three games, neither team scored through five innings and the Zephyrs were held scoreless through seven innings...The first game between the two this year was a 15-inning, 4-four, 54-minute marathon on April 25 in Oklahoma City. The Zephyrs won, 10-8...The Zephyrs homered 27 times against Oklahoma City last season and have gone deep nine times in 11 games this year...New Orleans catcher Kyle Skipworth has seven RBI in his past six games against OKC.

Close Calls: The RedHawks have won four of their last five games, with each victory coming by one run. They've won each of their last five one-run affairs, and their record now stands at 14-12 in one-run games. The RedHawks are now also 5-0 when tied after eight innings and are the only undefeated team in the PCL in that scenario. (Every team has at least two losses.)

Comeback Kids: Last night was the team's fourth win this season when trailing after seven innings -- tied for second-most in the PCL. Three of those wins have actually occurred on the road.

By George: Last night George Springer became the third RedHawk this season with a multi-homer game (B. Wallace, 5/5 @ Iowa; J. Villar, 6/16 vs. Round Rock). It was also the third multi-homer game he's had after doing it twice with Double-A Corpus Christi prior to his promotion (4/23 @ Midland; 5/27 vs. Arkansas). After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his Triple-A debut June 27 in Nashville, Springer has hit safely in each of his last 10 games, hitting .424 (14x33) with four home runs and 10 RBI. He is the only player in all of professional baseball this season go 20/20 (23 HR, 27 SB).

Lord Laird: Brandon Laird has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, posting a .391 average (18x46) with seven multi-hit games, including seven extra-base hits and six RBI. His game-tying RBI double in the eighth inning yesterday was his team leading 21st two-bagger of the season.

Hip Hip, Jose: Jose Martinez is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games. During the streak he is batting .357 (10x28) with three multi-hit games.

Out of the Park: The RedHawks hit three home runs in Saturday's win to end a stretch of four-straight games without going deep. It's the fifth time this season they've hit at least three dingers in a game, but only the third time outside of hitter-friendly Albuquerque. They also have only allowed four home runs over their past 10 games, all of which have been solo shots. Their 74 homers allowed this season are fourth-least in the PCL.

Getting Over the Hump: With a win tonight, the RedHawks would be above .500 on the road for the first time since they were 12-11 entering May 25. They are also looking for consecutive wins at Zephyr Field for the first time in the same season since Aug. 29-30, 2011.

Firsts of Fury: The RedHawks have scored in the first inning in six of their last nine games, totaling 13 runs. However, opponents have scored in the first inning in six of the last nine games as well, plating 11 runs.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Monday, July 8 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock LHP Wade LeBlanc (0-0, 1.93) LHP Brad Mills (7-3, 4.05)

Tuesday, July 9 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Brad Peacock (4-2, 2.89) RHP Evan Meek (2-4, 4.04)

Wednesday, July 10 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Jake Buchanan (1-1, 4.09) RHP Scott Richmond (2-2, 6.58)

Thursday, July 11 7:05 p.m. vs. New Orleans RHP Jarred Cosart (7-4, 3.29) TBA




Pacific Coast League Stories from July 7, 2013


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