PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: September 3, 2012

Published on September 3, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Round Rock Express (69-74) vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks (77-65)

Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros

Game #143 of 143/Home #71 of 71 (44-26)

Pitching Probables: RR-LH Chad Bell (5-4, 4.36) vs. OKC-LH Dallas Keuchel (6-4, 4.03)

Monday, September 3, 2012 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla.| 11:05 a.m. CT

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

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

***END OF REGULAR SEASON***

2013 Season Opener: Thursday, April 4 @ Memphis

2013 Home Opener: Friday, April 12 vs. Memphis

Today's Game-- The RedHawks finish the 2012 season with an 11:05 a.m. tilt against the Round Rock Express. Since the Albuquerque Isotopes won last night's game, the RedHawks are eliminated from playoff contention.

Last Night-- The RedHawks used a strong night at the plate and some great late-inning relief to keep their playoff hopes alive with a 9-6 win over the Express. Brad Snyder hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to give the RedHawks an early 2-1 lead. With the RedHawks leading 3-1 in the fifth, Joey Butler hit a game-tying, two-run double. In the bottom of the frame, the RedHawks took the lead for good. J.B. Shuck broke the tie with an RBI single, and two batters later, Mike Hessman sent a line drive into the bleachers for his 35th home run of the season, giving the RedHawks a 6-3 lead. The Express plated one more the in the sixth, but the RedHawks responded with three more runs again. Jose Martinez, Carlos Corporan, and Shuck each drove in runs to give the RedHawks their largest lead at 9-4. The pesky Express scored twice in the seventh, but the combination of Enerio Del Rosario, Mark Hamburger, and Garrett Mock retired the final seven hitters of the game.

Today's Probable Pitchers-- Dallas Keuchel returns to the RedHawks and will make the start...Keuchel had been with the Astros since July 21 before being optioned on August 31...Over two stints in the Majors, Keuchel has gone 1-7 with a 5.54 ERA...He has lost each of his last seven decisions, spanning 10 starts...The lefty will make his first start for the RedHawks since July 18, when he allowed two runs over six innings in a win over Omaha...Until his first promotion in mid-June, Keuchel had been the staff leader...He held the league's lowest walk rate and ranked third in the PCL in innings...Subtract two rough starts on the West Coast in May, and Keuchel's ERA over his remaining 13 starts drops to 2.31...He faced the Express once earlier this season on April 29, earning a win after allowing two runs (one earned) and eight hits over 6.1 innings in a 9-4 victory...Over 12 career starts at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, Keuchel owns a 1.85 ERA...Today marks the final start of a successful season for Round Rock pitcher Chad Bell...Bell began this season at High-A Myrtle Beach and has shot through Double-A Frisco and onto Triple-A...Combined between his three stops in 2012, Bell is 8-6 with a 3.56 ERA over 30 appearances, including 20 starts...Bell has come on strong lately, allowing just three runs and 16 hits over his last three starts, spanning 16 innings...On Wednesday against New Orleans, he allowed two runs and six hits over five innings to earn a win...Bell faced the RedHawks on August 18, limiting OKC to one run over six innings, but he did not figure in the decision after a late RedHawks comeback.

The Last Waltz-- Albuquerque clinched the division last night, making today the final game of the season for the RedHawks. Over the last week, the RedHawks gained five games in the standings to make a run at the playoffs. Their 77 wins are the most since notching 80 in 2005, and their 44 home wins are the most since racking up 45 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2006. It's also the best record in team history without making the postseason.

Busting Out-- The RedHawks have scored 49 runs and notched 62 hits during the seven games on the current homestand. On the preceding nine-game road trip, they scored just 28 runs. They have scored at least four runs in an inning six times throughout the homestand.

Angel in the Infield-- With three hits last night, Angel Sanchez raised his season average to .323. He will set a new career high, besting his previous mark of .313 in 2005 with High Desert.

Martinez Mash-- J.D. Martinez has hit safely in five straight games as well as in seven of his last eight. He has four multi-hit efforts over his last seven games and is batting .370 during that stretch (10-for-27).

A Fix For Bix-- Brian Bixler collected his first three-hit game last night since June 18, when he was playing for the Astros. His previous three-hit game with the RedHawks occurred May 28 against Albuquerque. Bixler is 9 for his last 17, and he has eight hits over the last four games.

Hail Hessman-- Mike Hessman's 35 home runs have set a new career best for home runs with one team in season. His career high is 39 after he hit 34 for Toledo and five for Detroit in 2008.

Down to the Wire-- 14 of the RedHawks' last 17 games have been decided by three runs or less, with eight of those decided by two runs or less.

Promising Pitching-- Over the last 23 games the team ERA is 2.99 (71 ER/214 IP). The starters have turned in 15 quality starts and posted a combined 2.41 ERA (38 ER/142.0 IP) with 95 strikeouts and 38 walks. However, the Express have been able to find some success, scoring 17 runs over the last three games.

Keeping it in the Park-- The RedHawks have allowed just six dingers over the last 22 contests, spanning 197 IP. Opponents have not left the park in 72 consecutive innings.

Against the Express-- The RedHawks clinched a win in the season series with a victory last night...Nine of the last 10 games have been decided by three runs or less, including four by one or two runs...Each team is hitting close to .300 against the other (OKC .298, RR .292)...J.B. Shuck is hitting .410 against the Express and Round Rock's Julio Borbon--a former RedHawk--is hitting .383 with a team-leading 10 RBIs.

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