PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: May 11, 2013

May 11, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (22-12) vs. Salt Lake Bees (16-20)

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels

Games #35 of 144/Home #21 of 72 (14-6)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Ross Seaton (0-2, 10.42) vs. SLC-RHP Billy Buckner (3-2, 4.81)

Saturday, May 11, 2013 | 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 open a four-game series against the Salt Lake Bees and continue their eight-game homestand tonight at 7:05 p.m. Oklahoma City is currently riding the third-longest home win streak in club history, taking the last 11 games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The RedHawks and Devon Energy will present Hometown Heroes Celebration Night to honor service men and women and their families throughout the ballgame.

Last Game: The RedHawks pitching staff struck out a season-high 15 batters in a 1-0 win against Tacoma to complete a four-game sweep. RedHawks starting pitcher Brett Oberholtzer (2-3) struck out a season-high nine batters, allowed one hit and walked two in 5.2 shutout innings for the win. Jose Valdez recorded his ninth save of the season as the RedHawks blanked an opponent for the third time this season. In the fourth inning, Brett Wallace hit fly ball to Tacoma right fielder Eric Thames, who ran into the gate of the Rainiers bullpen trying to make the catch. Wallace wound up with a triple, and Brandon Laird followed with a double to score the game's only run.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Ross Seaton returns to the mound for OKC...After a successful first outing in Nashville, he has allowed 24 runs (21 ER) and 28 hits over a combined 14 innings during his last four games...Seaton has surprisingly had a rough time in Oklahoma City, allowing 14 runs and 13 hits over just 4.2 innings...In his previous start Monday at Iowa, he threw five innings, gave up four runs and a season-high eight hits while striking out a season-high six batters...Before this recent rough stretch, Seaton had allowed one earned run in each of his previous four outings with OKC, dating back to last season...He faced the Bees in Salt Lake last year, allowing just one run and three hits over 5.1 innings (ND).

Against the Bees: 2013: 0-0 2012: 0-4 All-time: 36-40 In OKC: 21-15

The RedHawks enter their lone series of the season against Salt Lake searching for their first win over the Bees since a 5-2 victory May 15, 2011 in Oklahoma City...Salt Lake has won the last six meetings, sweeping the RedHawks in Salt Lake City in 2012 and winning the final two games between the teams in 2011...Last season the Bees won a pair of extra-inning games and three of the four contests were decided by one or two runs...The last time Salt Lake visited Bricktown, the Bees won the series, 3-1 in 2011...The RedHawks have historically found success against Salt Lake at home, leading the series in OKC, 21-15.

How Sweep It Is: Friday's win gave the RedHawks their first sweep of Tacoma since the RedHawks took all four from the Rainiers, Aug. 8-11, 2005 in Oklahoma City. It also marked the RedHawks second series sweep of 2013 (vs. Nashville, April 29-May 2).

Bricktown Brilliance: The RedHawks have run their current home win streak to 11 games. It's only the third time in the 16-year history of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark they've had a home win streak reach double digits. Last season the RedHawks made team history with a 14-game home win streak, May 10-June 7. They also won 13-straight in OKC, Aug. 12-Sept. 2, 1999.

Top Hawks: The RedHawks now stake claim to the league's best record. This is the earliest in the season the RedHawks have been 10 games above .500 since 2008, when they started out 20-10.

It Only Takes One: Yesterday was the RedHawks' first 1-0 victory of the season. Their previous 1-0 win came on the final day of the 2012 season in a defeat of Round Rock. The RedHawks actually tied a season low with just four hits last night.

Kounting K's: RedHawks pitchers combined for a season-high 15 strikeouts last night, led by nine from Brett Oberholtzer. Reliever Josh Zeid recorded all four of his outs via strikeout, setting a personal season high. The K total was the highest in a game for OKC since May 4, 2011 against Nashville. The RedHawks also struck out 14 Rainiers on Tuesday and notched 39 strikeouts over the four-game set. The pitching staff had not struck out more than 11 batters in a game this season prior to the series with Tacoma.

Home Hurlers: During the team's current 11-game home win streak, the pitching staff has posted a 2.32 ERA (25 ER/97 IP). They

have allowed two or less runs eight times and allowed more than three runs just twice. In four of the last five home games, the RedHawks have held their opponent to one or no runs. During the Tacoma series, the RedHawks surrendered just eight runs with four coming in one inning (4th inning on Wednesday). In three of the four games they held the Rainiers scoreless through eight innings. The RedHawks also held Tacoma 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position the last two games.

Running With the Pac: The RedHawks are in the midst of a stretch of 16-straight games against Pacific Conference foes, going 4-0 so far. Last season the RedHawks went 14-17 against the other side of the league, including an 8-7 mark at home.

Villar Vexing the PCL: Jonathan Villar is hitting .381 (37x97) over his last 24 games. After getting off to a 2-for-34 start, Villar has been one of the best hitters in the league. Since April 15, he has more hits (37) than anyone else in the PCL and the second-most in all of the Minor Leagues. He also leads the team with 12 stolen bases, good for second in the PCL.

Wally World: Brett Wallace has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .372 (16-for-43) with three home runs and nine RBI. Despite playing in just over half of the team's games this season, he is second on the club with five home runs.

The Runnin' RedHawks of OKC: The RedHawks lead the league with 51 stolen bases, including 30 in the last 13 games. They had stolen at least one base in 12-straight games before the streak was snapped last night.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Sunday, May 12 7:05 p.m. Salt Lake RHP Jarred Cosart (4-0, 2.18) RHP A.J. Schugel (0-2, 5.82)

Monday, May 13 7:05 p.m. Salt Lake RHP Brad Peacock (0-0, 6.00) RHP Matt Shoemaker (2-5, 4.27)

Tuesday, May 14 11:05 a.m. Salt Lake RHP Asher Wojciechowski (1-0, 0.90) RHP Kip Wells (1-2, 9.00)

Wednesday, May 15 OFF

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2013


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