RedHawks Game Notes: May 19, 2014
Published on May 19, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (24-20) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (19-24)
Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins
Game #45 of 144/Road #25 of 72 (14-10)
Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Brett Oberholtzer (1-0, 0.00) vs. NEW-RHP Alex Sanabia (0-1, 8.10)
Monday, May 19, 2014 | Zephyr Field | Metairie, La. | 7 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 and open a four-game series against New Orleans at 7 p.m. at Zephyr Field. Oklahoma City is trying avoid losing three straight road games for the first time this season.
Last Game: In a meeting between two of the PCL's top pitching prospects, Jimmy Nelson and the Nashville Sounds were able to edge Mike Foltynewicz and the RedHawks, 2-1, Sunday at Greer Stadium. Nelson (5-1) held the RedHawks to one run and four hits over seven frames. He struck out five and walked one. Foltynewicz (3-3) allowed two runs and three hits over six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. The teams combined for just one hit through four innings. The Sounds broke through in the fifth, scoring twice with two outs. In the sixth, Adron Chambers led off with a single and stole second base. He advanced to third on a groundout by Robbie Grossman and scored on a groundout by Domingo Santana to make it 2-1. Nelson and relievers Brent Leach and Donovan Hand combined to retire 12 of the final 13 RedHawks to step to the plate, including the last eight straight. Hand recorded the final four outs of the game to earn his eighth save.
Today's Probable Pitcher: Brett Oberholtzer (1-0) makes his second start of the season for OKC...In his first start back with the RedHawks May 12 against Colorado Springs, Oberholtzer held the Sky Sox scoreless over seven dazzling innings. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out nine, matching his highest total in a RedHawks uniform...Oberholtzer began the season in Houston's starting rotation. He made seven starts, going 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA before being optioned to OKC. He posted a 3.04 ERA with a .239 opponent average through his first four starts, but over his next three starts allowed 16 runs and 20 hits over 14.1 IP...Oberholtzer had the worst run support among Major League starting pitchers. In his seven starts, the Astros scored 12 total runs, and just eight while he was in the game...Last season, Oberholtzer made 13 appearances for the Astros and went on to be named the Astros Pitcher of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He went 4-5 as a starter, posting a 2.24 ERA in 10 starts....He began the season in OKC and went 6-6 with a 4.37 ERA in 16 starts. In his last 11 starts with the RedHawks, he went 5-3 with a 3.19 ERA and 58 strikeouts...In three career starts against New Orleans, Oberholtzer is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA. He last met the Zephyrs April 28, 2013, picking up a win while holding the Zephyrs to two runs on six hits over five innings.
Against the Zephyrs: 2014: 6-2 2013: 8-8 All-time: 138-123 At NEW: 63-66
The RedHawks played eight straight games against New Orleans in early April, going 6-2 overall and 4-0 in New Orleans...The series sweep by the RedHawks April 7-10 was their first at Zephyr Field since July 20-23, 2009. OKC outscored the Zephyrs, 25-9, in the series and the RedHawks are outscoring the Zephyrs, 53-35, this season...Jon Singleton is batting .393 (11x28) with three homers, 11 RBI and 10 runs over just seven games...Gregorio Petit has 13 hits over the eight meetings and is batting .433 against the Zephyrs...Oklahoma City has hit 10 homers while the Zephyrs have gone deep just three times...The RedHawks and Zephyrs split their previous two season series, going 8-8 against each other in 2013 and 2012.
Big 12 Big Trip: The RedHawks are off to a 2-2 start on their annual 12-game road trip while the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship takes place at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. 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. After New Orleans, the RedHawks finish the trip Memphis.
Road Warriors: The RedHawks are tied with Las Vegas for the most road wins in the PCL (14). Although they had to settle for a split in the Nashville series, they still have not lost any of their first six road series this season.
Opening Statements: The RedHawks are 9-2 in series openers this season, including an impressive 6-0 in road series openers.
Kiké to Success: Kiké Hernandez went 2-for-3 Sunday to record a third straight multi-hit game and his eighth in 28 games with the RedHawks. Including his time with Double-A Corpus Christi, Hernandez has collected 12 multi-hit games total this season. He is currently on a five-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 8-for-19.
Mashing 'Mingo: Although Domingo Santana had his seven-game hitting streak come to an end Sunday in Nashville, he has collected a RBI in six straight games. He leads the RedHawks with 47 hits and ranks second on the team with 28 RBI and six homers.
Enter the Chambers: Adron Chambers has hit safely in six of seven games since returning from the DL, going 9-for-26. Yesterday he stole his first base of the season and scored OKC's only run.
Bullish Bullpen: The bullpen has a 2.08 ERA (16 ER/69.1 IP) and has allowed 51 hits with 63 strikeouts over the last 20 games. OKC relievers have held opponents scoreless in 10 of the last 16 games and haven't allowed an earned run in 11 of the last 16 contests.
May Matters: The RedHawks are 9-8 this month and lead the PCL with a 3.32 ERA. However, their 51 runs scored are the fewest in the league and their .238 average ranks 15th.
Running RedHawks: OKC tied a season high with four stolen bases Sunday, and matched a season high by stealing a base in a fourth straight game. The RedHawks have 27 steals in 2014, which is tied for ninth in the league. In 2013, they set a team record and led all of Triple-A with 172 stolen bases.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
Tuesday, May 20 7 p.m. @ New Orleans RHP Jake Buchanan (3-3, 3.19) LHP Brian Flynn (4-2, 3.27)
Wednesday, May 21 11 a.m. @ New Orleans RHP Nick Tropeano (2-3, 2.95) RHP Bryan Evans (4-2, 4.21)
Thursday, May 22 7 p.m. @ New Orleans RHP David Martinez (4-2, 4.75) TBA
Friday, May 23 7:05 p.m. @ Memphis LHP Rudy Owens (2-3, 6.05) TBA
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 19, 2014
- Memphis Falls 1-0 in Extra Innings - Memphis Redbirds
- Sanabia Shines in Return to Zephyrs - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Nashville Walks off with Win - Omaha Storm Chasers
- RedHawks Find Two-Out Trouble in 6-2 Loss - Oklahoma City Comets
- Express Upends I-Cubs 4-2 - Round Rock Express
- Mattison Belts Game-Ending HR as Sounds Walk off against Omaha - Nashville Sounds
- Justin Ruggiano Joins Iowa Cubs on Major League Rehab Assignment - Iowa Cubs
- Storm Chasers Participating in Omaha Gives! for First Time - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Omaha Storm Chasers May 19th Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Homestand Begins with Four against Albuquerque - Salt Lake Bees
- RedHawks Game Notes: May 19, 2014 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Hendricks Earns PCL Pitcher of the Week - Iowa Cubs
- Jimmy Paredes Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week - Omaha Storm Chasers
- PCL Tabs Player and Pitcher of the Week - PCL1
- Salt Lake Bees Extend Major League Affiliation with Los Angeles - Salt Lake Bees
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
