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PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: May 16, 2104

May 16, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (23-18) vs. Nashville Sounds (21-19)

Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Game #42 of 144/Road #22 of 72 (13-8)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP David Martinez (4-2, 3.94) vs. NAS-RHP Mike Fiers (6-1, 1.59)

Friday, May 16, 2014 | Greer Stadium | Nashville, Tenn. | 7:05 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The RedHawks continue their 12-game road trip with their second game in Nashville at 7:05 p.m. at Greer Stadium. The RedHawks are on a three-game winning streak for the first time since winning five in a row April 6-10.

Last Game: The RedHawks had another stellar night on the pitching mound and used a couple of home runs to open a 12-game road trip with a 4-2 win over Nashville Thursday at Greer Stadium. Three RedHawks pitchers combined to hold the Sounds to just two runs and two hits. Nick Tropeano (2-3) turned in another strong outing, allowing two runs and one hit over six innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Rhiner Cruz retired all six batters he faced over the seventh and eighth innings, and Kevin Chapman closed out the game with a scoreless ninth for his second save. Erik Castro opened the scoring the fifth inning when he connected on his first home run of the season to give the RedHawks a 1-0 lead. Max Stassi doubled to score two runners in the sixth inning for a 3-0 lead. Nashville's two runs came in sixth inning on a home run by Eugenio Velez to cut OKC's lead to 3-2. In the top of the eighth, Domingo Santana hit a solo homer to push the lead to two runs. The Sounds put the tying runs on base with two outs in the ninth before Chapman got Hector Gomez to fly out to end the game.

Today's Probable Pitcher: David Martinez (4-2) tries to add to his team-leading win total when he takes the mound tonight...He earned his fourth win of the season in his last outing May 8 against Memphis. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked a season-high three batters and struck out two over five innings in Oklahoma City's 8-3 win...One of his biggest strengths this season is holding opponents to a .174 batting average with runners in scoring position, including 1-for-12 when there are two outs...He's excelled on the road, going 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA and holding opponents to a .211 average...Martinez does a good job keeping the ball in the park, allowing just one homer in 32.0 IP this season...He last faced Nashville April 27 in Bricktown. He allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits, walked two and struck out three over three innings as a piggyback starter in Oklahoma City's 8-5 loss and did not factor into the decision...He was named the 2013 Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going a combined 14-4 with a 2.57 ERA between Double-A Corpus Christi and the RedHawks. He led Astros minor leaguers in wins and ranked third in ERA...Martinez was also named Texas League Pitcher of the Year and a Midseason and Postseason Texas League All-Star.

Against the Sounds: 2014: 2-3 2013: 11-5 All-time: 140-121 At NAS: 66-64

The RedHawks ended a three-game losing skid against the Sounds with Thursday's win...Nashville closed out their most recent series with three straight wins against the RedHawks April 24-27 in Bricktown. That marked the first time Nashville had won three straight against OKC since May 27-29, 2011. It was also their first series win in OKC since taking three of five, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2010...Nashville connected on seven home runs during the previous series, including six during the final two games...The RedHawks have won their last three season series against Nashville and five of the last six...Since the start of 2012, the RedHawks are 26-11 against the Sounds, including a 12-5 record in Nashville...These two teams currently have the top two pitching staffs in the league, and the RedHawks' ERA is just .04 better than Nashville's (OKC-3.68; NAS-3.72).

Big 12 Big Trip: Yesterday marked the start of the RedHawks' annual 12-game road trip while the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship takes place at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. In addition to the Big 12 Tournament, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark hosted the Bedlam Game last night, with Oklahoma State defeating Oklahoma, 4-2. Three OSSAA championship games are also on tap at The Brick tomorrow. The RedHawks went 5-8 during last season's Big 12 trip to Sacramento, Fresno and Iowa. They went 6-6 in 2012 and 5-7 in 2011. Oklahoma City last posted a winning record during the 2010 trip, going a combined 7-4 in Portland, Tacoma and New Orleans. Following Nashville, the RedHawks visit New Orleans and Memphis.

Pitching Prowess: The RedHawks pitching staff has posted a 2.50 team ERA (42 ER/151.0 IP) over the last 17 games (10-7). After last night's performance, the RedHawks have surpassed the Sounds for the best ERA in the PCL. OKC's 2.76 ERA this month is tops in the PCL, and Memphis is the next-closest at 3.33...Over the last four games the RedHawks are holding their opponents to a .140 average (17x121) and have allowed just five hits over their previous two games combined (5x58). Additionally, they have allowed just three hits total over their past two road games (two of which were home runs).

Start Me Up: Over the last 10 games, RedHawks starting pitchers have turned in eight quality starts. During the 10-game stretch, the starters have combined for a cumulative 2.15 ERA (15 ER/62.2 IP) and have allowed more than two runs just twice and more than three runs just once. Over the last four games, Mike Foltynewicz, Brett Oberholtzer, Jake Buchanan, and Nick Tropeano have held OKC's opponents to four runs and 12 hits over 26.2 IP.

Mashing 'Mingo: Domingo Santana homered in a third straight game Thursday night and now has six home runs this season. He is 7-for-14 during his current five-game hitting streak and paces the RedHawks with 45 hits for the season. Santana has torched Nashville's pitching staff, going 10-for-19 with two homers and five RBI over the teams' first five meetings.

Dinger Details: The RedHawks have hit seven homers in their last four games. Prior to that, the RedHawks had been held to four home runs in their first 10 games of May...On the flip side, the RedHawks pitching staff allowed a home run Thursday for the first time in seven games. The six homers they've allowed this month are the fewest in the league.

Double Take: The RedHawks turned two double plays last night, running their season total up to 46. Only Las Vegas has completed more double plays in the PCL (49).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Saturday, May 17 6:35 p.m. @ Nashville LHP Rudy Owens (2-2, 4.66) RHP Michael Blazek (0-2, 5.95)

Sunday, May 18 2:05 p.m. @ Nashville RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 4.00) RHP Jimmy Nelson (4-1, 1.76)

Monday, May 19 7 p.m. @ New Orleans LHP Brett Oberholtzer (1-0, 0.00) TBA

Tuesday, May 20 7 p.m. @ New Orleans RHP Jake Buchanan (3-3, 3.19) LHP Brian Flynn (4-2, 3.27)

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