PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: July 7, 2014

Published on July 7, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (47-44) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (44-46)

Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins

Game #92 of 144/Home #44 of 72 (22-21)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Mike Foltynewicz (6-5, 4.20) vs. NEW-RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-2, 3.62)

Monday, July 7, 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 continue their homestand and open a four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The RedHawks have won eight of 12 games this year against the Zephyrs.

Last Game: Manny Ramirez's eighth-inning go-ahead RBI single proved to be the difference, as the Redhawks fell to the Iowa Cubs, 5-4. Iowa built a 4-2 lead powered by three home runs before the RedHawks tied the score in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth, Ramirez hit a grounder to center field to score Chris Valaika for the lead. The RedHawks scored first with a RBI single by Preston Tucker in the first inning. A two-run homer by Iowa's Kris Bryant in the top of the second sailed over the LED board in left field to put Iowa ahead, 2-1. Javy Baez homered onto the grass berm in right field past the visitor's bullpen in the top of the sixth to give Iowa a 3-1 advantage. Grossman led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single then scored on a sac fly by Marc Krauss to cut the Iowa lead to 3-2. A homer by Ryan Kalish pushed Iowa ahead, 4-2, in the seventh. Grossman hit a RBI single to bring home Carlos Perez in the bottom of the seventh, then with the bases loaded, Austin Wates hit into a fielder's choice to tie the game, 4-4. The RedHawks put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the ninth, but Iowa's Zac Rosscup closed out the game to earn his second save. Armando Rivero (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. RedHawks reliever Alex White (1-2) was charged with the loss.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) is set to make his team-leading 15th start, aiming for a team-best seventh win...In his last start Wednesday in Colorado Springs, he allowed three runs (one earned) and eight hits over six innings in a no decision. He walked one and struck out five...Wednesday's outing was his seventh quality start of the season, tying him with Nick Tropeano for the most on the pitching staff. He leads the team with 82 strikeouts and ranks second with 83.2 innings...Over his last four starts, Foltynewicz has allowed 19 runs (16 earned) over 21.1 IP and opponents are batting .333. Before that, he had allowed just 14 runs in his previous 10 outings combined...During a streak of six straight quality starts May 5-June 7, Foltynewicz went 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA and held opponents to a .172 average. He also struck out 44 batters over 38.1 innings...He's recorded games of 12 and 10 strikeouts to become just the fourth pitcher in team history with multiple double-digit strikeout games in the same season...The RedHawks are 9-5 in his 14 starts and 11-6 in games he's pitched in...Foltynewicz went 0-1 in two April appearances (one start) against the Zephyrs this season. He allowed 10 runs (nine earned) and nine hits over 3.2 IP.

Against the Zephyrs: 2014: 8-4 2013: 8-8 All-time: 140-125 In OKC: 75-57

The teams split their most recent series May 19-22 in New Orleans...The RedHawks outscored the Zephyrs, 22-10, including wins of 12-0 and 6-1 in the middle of the series. The Zephyrs closed out the series with a 3-2 win in 10 innings, after the RedHawks could not hang onto a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning and a 2-1 lead in the 10th...The RedHawks have outscored the Zephyrs, 75-45, this season and have an 11-5 advantage in home runs in the series...Gregorio Petit leads the RedHawks with 16 hits against New Orleans. He also has seven RBI and has scored six runs. Max Stassi has 14 hits and 12 RBI, with two home runs...OKC played eight straight games against New Orleans in early April, winning six times. The series sweep by the RedHawks April 7-10 was their first at Zephyr Field since July 20-23, 2009...The RedHawks and Zephyrs split their previous two season series, going 8-8 against each other in 2013 and 2012.

Robbie's Return: Yesterday Robbie Grossman recorded a season-high four hits, scored two runs and had one RBI as he extended his career-long hitting streak to 17 games. The streak is the longest active streak in the league and is the longest by a RedHawks player since Brad Snyder hit safely in 18 consecutive games in June 2012. It's also the second-longest streak in the PCL this season (Adam Duvall, Fresno - 19; May 12-June 11). Grossman has now hit safely in nine straight games since returning to the RedHawks June 28, going 16-for-32 (.500) with six RBI and 11 runs scored. During his 17-game hit streak, he is batting .423 (30x71) with eight multi-hit games, nine RBI and 16 runs. He has reached base in 17 of his last 24 plate appearances (12 hits, three walks, two HBP).

Men of Steal: Austin Wates stole two bases yesterday, and now ranks third in the PCL with 22 steals. The RedHawks have stolen seven bases over the past two games, and lead the league with 11 steals in July. They have 65 stolen bases this season (6th in PCL).

Close Calls: Each of the three games in the Iowa series were decided by one run, and five of the team's six games this month have been decided by one or two runs. (The RedHawks are 2-3 in those games.)

Slammin' Santana: After making his Major League debut and spending the past week with the Astros, Domingo Santana returns to the RedHawks today. Even after his absence, Santana is still tied for seventh in the PCL in hits (97) and sixth in total bases (160). He is the also the team leader in RBI (52) and runs scored (49).

Dinger Details: The three home runs allowed by the RedHawks yesterday were the most the team has allowed since June 5 at Omaha and the most in a home game since April 27 against Nashville. Keeping the ball in the park has been one of the team's biggest strengths, and their 64 homers allowed this season is second-fewest in the league (Nashville - 61).

Bullish Bullpen: Over the last three games, the RedHawks bullpen has allowed one run and six hits over 10.2 innings. The relief corps has racked up 15 strikeouts and four walks.

Hard Times on the Hill: Sunday marked the eighth time in an 11-game span the RedHawks have allowed at least five runs in a game. Over the past 18 games, the pitching staff has a 5.12 ERA (91 ER/160.0 IP), allowing at least seven runs seven times, while allowing three or fewer runs just four times. During this stretch, the starting rotation has a 5.49 ERA (60 ER/98.1 IP) and has only produced four quality starts.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Tuesday, July 8 7:05 p.m. New Orleans LHP Brett Oberholtzer (1-2, 4.65) LHP Adam Conley (2-3, 4.68)

Wednesday, July 9 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP Jake Buchanan (6-5, 3.72) LHP Brian Flynn (7-6, 3.62)

Thursday, July 10 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 5.75) RHP Elih Villanueva (8-6, 3.42)

Friday, July 11 7:05 p.m. @ Iowa TBA TBA

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