PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: July 8, 2014

Published on July 8, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (47-45) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (45-46)

Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins

Game #93 of 144/Home #45 of 72 (22-22)

Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Brett Oberholtzer (1-2, 4.65) vs. NEW-LHP Adam Conley (2-3, 4.68)

Tuesday, July 8, 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 look to recover from their largest defeat of the season and even their series with the New Orleans Zephyrs when the teams play at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Last Game: A five-run third inning by New Orleans sparked the Zephyrs to a 10-1 win Monday night. The RedHawks scored first before the Zephyrs tallied the game's final 10 runs, including eight between the third and fifth innings. Robbie Grossman led off with a double for the RedHawks and later scored on a RBI single by Marc Krauss for 1-0 lead in the first inning. In the third, a RBI double by Mark Canha tied the game, and a sacrifice fly by Rob Brantly put the Zephyrs ahead, 2-1. A three-run homer by Juan Diaz landed past the visiting bullpen in right field and made it 5-1. The Zephyrs plated a pair of runs in the fourth and another on a RBI single by Jake Marisnick in the fifth. Kyle Jensen went deep in the eighth, and Canha finished the scoring with a RBI single in the ninth. New Orleans starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (2-2) allowed just one run and six hits and struck out seven over seven innings. The RedHawks never had more than one hit in an inning after the first, and did not have a runner reach third base over the final eight innings as well. Mike Foltynewicz (6-6) allowed a season-high seven runs on six hits and six walks over three-plus innings in the loss.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Brett Oberholtzer (1-2) returns to the RedHawks after his third stint with the Astros...During his most recent stay, Oberholtzer went 0-1 and allowed six runs and 14 hits over 12.2 IP. Oberholtzer last pitched Thursday in Anaheim, allowing nine hits and five runs over 6.1 innings. He walked three and struck out four in the loss......With the Astros this season, Oberholtzer is 2-7 with a 4.66 ERA over 63.2 innings. He has walked 17 and struck out 48...Tonight marks his sixth start of the season for the RedHawks and he seeks his first win with the team since May 12...His last start with OKC was in a no decision June 21 at Tacoma. He allowed three runs and seven hits and tied a season high by pitching seven innings...Over his five starts with OKC, Oberholtzer has struck out 31 batters with just three walks over 31 innings. Combined with his numbers in Houston this season, he has a 3.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio (79K/20 BB)...During his time with the RedHawks, he's held opponents just 2-for-21 with runners in scoring position...However, Oberholtzer has had some issues keeping the ball inside the park. He's allowed nine home runs over his past four games with Oklahoma City in 24 innings. He's allowed just five homers in 63.2 IP with the Astros this year...Oberholtzer last pitched against New Orleans May 19. He allowed six runs (five earned) and nine hits over five innings in a 6-2 loss.

Against the Zephyrs: 2014: 8-5 2013: 8-8 All-time: 140-126 In OKC: 75-58

With last night's 10-run outburst, the Zephyrs matched their entire run total from the past series between the teams, May 19-22 in New Orleans...The Zephyrs have won each of the past two meetings in OKC, totaling 24 runs and 27 hits in the process...Gregorio Petit leads the RedHawks with 17 hits against New Orleans and is batting .378. He also has seven RBI and has scored six runs. Max Stassi has 14 hits and 12 RBI, with two home runs over 12 games...Rob Brantly has collected 11 RBI over 11 games for the Zephyrs, accounting for nearly half his season RBI total (24)...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.

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 11 of 16 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.

He's Back: Gregorio Petit returned to the RedHawks lineup Monday for the first time since suffering a leg injury June 28. He went 1-for-3 before being lifted for a pinch-runner in the seventh. It was the first game for the PCL All-Star since being named team player of the month for June, when led OKC with a .370 average, tied for the team lead with five homers, and tied for second with 18 RBI.

Robbie Recalled: Earlier today, the Houston Astros recalled RedHawks outfielder Robbie Grossman after Alex Presley was placed on the DL. Grossman hit safely in 10 straight games after returning to the RedHawks June 28, going 18-for-38 (.473) with six RBI and 12 runs scored. It extended his overall hitting streak with the RedHawks to 18 games -- the second-longest in the PCL this season.

Men of Steal: With Marc Krauss' first steal of the season last night, the RedHawks have now stolen eight bases over the past three games, and lead the league with 12 steals in July. They have 66 stolen bases this season to rank sixth in the PCL, and Austin Wates is third in the league with 22 swipes.

Dinger Details: The RedHawks allowed two home runs Monday and have given up five homers over the past two games and seven homers over the four games of the current homestand. However, heir 66 homers allowed this season is second-fewest in the league (Nashville - 61)...Kyle Jensen's eighth-inning homer was the first allowed by a RedHawks reliever in nine games.

Hard Times on the Hill: Last night was the first time the RedHawks allowed 10 runs in a game since a 12-10 win May 23 at Memphis. It also marked the ninth time in a 12-game span the RedHawks have allowed at least five runs. Over the past 19 games, the pitching staff has a 5.38 ERA (101 ER/169.0 IP), allowing at least seven runs eight times, while allowing three or fewer runs just four times. During this stretch, the starting rotation has a 5.95 ERA (67 ER/101.1 IP) and has only produced four quality starts.

Wojo's One-Hit Wonder: One year ago today, Asher Wojciechowski fired a one-hit shutout, facing the minimum in a 5-0 victory in Round Rock. It was the first time in team history a RedHawks pitcher faced the minimum during a complete game, and it was the first nine-inning, complete game shutout by a RedHawk since Luis Mendoza's no-hitter Aug. 14, 2009 vs. Salt Lake.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

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

Saturday, July 12 1:05 p.m. @ Iowa (DH) TBA/TBA TBA/TBA

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