RedHawks Game Notes
April 10, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Game 2 | April 10, 2009, 7:05 pm | AutoZone Park | Memphis, TN
KTOK AM 1000, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers
Tonight's scheduled starting pitchers:
RH Neftali Feliz vs. RH Adam Ottavino
TONIGHT: The Oklahoma City RedHawks send 20-year-old sensation Neftali Feliz to the mound for his Triple-A debut in game two of this series. The hard-throwing Feliz is the Rangers' No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America and No. 10 in all of baseball entering this season. Feliz was acquired from Atlanta with current Rangers Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison and Elvis Andrus, plus pitching prospect Beau Jones, in the 2007 trade deadline deal that sent Mark Teixeria and Ron Mahay to the Braves.
OPENING NIGHT WALK-THROUGH: Memphis took the season opener last night 4-3 in 10 innings. It marked the second straight year the Hawks and Redbirds had opened the season with a 4-3, 10-inning final, but last year at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark it was the RedHawks who prevailed in walk-off fashion. These teams have opened the season against each other five straight years and the last four have been decided in the winning team's last at-bat. Each team's bullpen absorbed a blown save last night, as OKC scored twice off Jess Todd in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead before Pedro Strop allowed a run in the ninth to see Memphis knot the score and force extras. Derrick Turnbow walked the final four hitters (two intentionally) that he faced in the 10th after retiring the leadoff batter to take the loss by walking in the winning run.
HELLO OKLAHOMA CITY: As a bow to taxpayers who funded the construction of AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in 1990s, the RedHawks added "City" to the franchise name in the off season after 11 seasons as the Oklahoma RedHawks. The former brick red and black color scheme has been replaced by navy blue and red. Previous local professional clubs also carried the "Oklahoma City" banner, including the Triple-A 89ers from their inception in 1962 until 1997.
ALONG CAME JONES: Oklahoma City's most successful Triple-A manager, Bobby Jones, is back for his ninth season in Oklahoma City, third of his current stint. Jones, 59, is the franchise's winningest manager with 568 wins for the 89ers/RedHawks over three stints (1993-94, 2002-05 and 2007-present). In his 22nd consecutive season as a manager, coach, or instructor with Texas, Jones is also the Rangers' all-time leading minor league skipper with 1,285 victories at various levels. Jones received the 2008 Mike Coolbaugh Award, presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field.
ALUMNI CLUB: Former major leaguers OKC players Scott Coolbaugh and Terry Clark have been promoted from Double-A Frisco to serve as OKC's coach and pitching coach, respectively. Coolbaugh, 42, will handle hitting and position player coaching duties. Entering his third season in the system, Scott Coolbaugh was the Frisco RoughRiders' hitting coach the previous two years. Clark, 48, spent the previous three seasons as the RoughRiders' pitching coach, helping guide them to the Texas League's best record in 2008 at 84-56. Prior to joining Frisco, Clark spent five seasons as a coach in the Cleveland organization at Triple-A Buffalo (2003-04), Double-A Akron (2001-02) and Class A Mahoning Valley (2000). Both Coolbaugh (1989-90) and Clark (1998) played in Oklahoma City at various stages of their careers.
ROSTER GLIMPSE: The RedHawks open the season with a starting rotation featuring the Rangers' top two prospects, RHP Neftali Feliz and LHP Derek Holland. Former RedHawk Esteban German, a mid-season all-star for the 2005 Hawks, was signed by Texas on Wednesday after seeing time in spring with Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs. Six RedHawks on this year's opening roster started 2008 with the team (Boggs, Duran, Arias, Benjamin, E. Ramirez and Mathis) while 7 more saw time at some point with the 2008 club (Harrison, M. Ramirez, Frostad, Gordon, Gabbard, Ballard and Mendoza).
ON THE AIR: KTOK AM 1000 is the RedHawks' new flagship radio station in 2009, airing nearly 100 games. Day games will primarily air on sister station Fox Sports Radio 1340 AM. Between the two outlets all 144 games will be broadcast live. Affiliates from around Oklahoma will once again offer fans outside the OKC metro area the chance to listen to the RedHawks.
UPCOMING PROBABLES:
Date Opponent Oklahoma Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio
Saturday April 11 @ Memphis RH Elizardo Ramirez RH P.J. Walters KTOK AM 1000
Sunday April 12 @ Memphis LH Derek Holland RH Blake Hawksworth KTOK AM 1000
Monday April 13 @ Nashville RH Luis Mendoza RH Tim Dillard FOX AM 1340
Tuesday April 14 @ Nashville RH Doug Mathis 0-0, 3.00 LH Sam Narron 0-0, 5.40 FOX AM 1340
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 10, 2009
- Sky Sox Win Second Straight Game Over 51s With a 5-4 Win - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- RedHawks hand 'Birds first loss - Memphis Redbirds
- Friday a night to remember in Express history - Round Rock Express
- Z's fall in Nashville - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Gamel Powers Sounds To 10-6 Win Over Z's - Nashville Sounds
- River Cats to Hold Ring Ceremony Saturday Night - Sacramento River Cats
- Salt Lake Bees to Honor Nick Adenhart - Salt Lake Bees
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Cats Fall on Opening Night - Sacramento River Cats
- Geer Impresses Again; Beavers Secure Opening Day Victory - Portland Beavers
- Large Crowd Greets Sounds At Greer - Nashville Sounds
- Colorado Springs Win Season Opener, 9-6 Over Las Vegas - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
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