RedHawks Game Notes
Published on April 12, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (1-2) at Memphis Redbirds (2-1)
Game 4 | April 12, 2009, 1:35 pm | AutoZone Park | Memphis, TN
Fox Sports Radio AM 1340, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers
Today's scheduled starting pitchers:
LH Derek Holland vs. RH Blake Hawksworth
THIS AFTERNOON: Lefthander Derek Holland makes his Triple-A debut as the RedHawks look for a split of the season-opening, four-game series at Memphis. Holland, the 2008 Nolan Ryan/Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year, enters this season as the Rangers' No. 2 prospect and No. 31 overall according to Baseball America. He finished 10th among all minor leaguers in 2008 with 157 strikeouts between Class A Clinton and Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco.
RUN IN FIRST HOLDS UP: Memphis scored a first-inning run last night with a double, a baserunner advance on a third strike in the dirt and a ground out, while three Memphis pitchers were blanking the RedHawks on 2 hits in a 1-0 Memphis win. P.J. Walters tossed 5.2 hitless innings before Julio Borbon and Joaquin Arias collected back-to-back singles to give OKC its only hits to go with 2 walks. OKC had only one runner, Borbon, reach as far as second base. Walters worked 7 innings, followed by Jess Todd and Chris Perez for one inning each as Memphis beat the RedHawks 1-0 for the third time in the past year. Twice last season at AutoZone Park, May 18 and Aug. 29, the Redbirds handed the RedHawks a 1-0 defeat. RedHawks righthander Elizardo Ramirez allowed 6 hits in 7 innings last night, but took the loss.
HAWKSWORTH VS. OKC: Memphis starter Blake Hawksworth faced the 2008 RedHawks 3 times, going 1-1 with a 3.71 ERA. He allowed 7 ER on 14 H in 17 innings, with 6 walks and 16 strikeouts. Here's how he fared head-to-head against current RedHawks:
Casey Benjamin 2-for-3, 2 BB, K Max Ramirez 1-for-2
German Duran 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, K Brandon Boggs 0-for-2, K
Joaquin Arias 1-for-2 Ben Harrison 0-for-2, K
SAVING ONE HOUR: Last night featured just 2 walks and 8 hits combined between the two teams, leading to a 2-hour, 6-minute game time for 9 innings. Friday, the teams combined for 13 walks and 18 hits and a 3-hour, 6-minute nine-inning contest.
BIG FLIES? The RedHawks have gone the length of the young season, 3 games and 28 innings, without hitting a home run. Others without a homer this season are Reno, Tacoma and Fresno.
STARTERS STINGY: Through the first three efforts by Doug Mathis, Neftali Feliz and Elizardo Ramirez, Oklahoma City starting pitchers have a 1.59 ERA (3 ER/17 IP). The RedHawks' staff has issued 14 walks while fanning 22, with 7 walks and 11 strikeouts for both the starters and bullpen. After walking seven Redbirds in each of the first two games, the RedHawks did not walk a batter last night.
SAME FRANCHISE, DIFFERENT LOOK: In recognition of 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.
FAMILIAR FACES: Six RedHawks on this year's opening-night 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. Starting today, four straight games will air on FOX. 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 PITCHING PROBABLES:
Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio
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
Wed. April 15 @ Nashville RH Neftali Feliz 0-0, 0.00 RH Mike Burns 0-0, 9.00 FOX AM 1340
Thursday April 16 @ Nashville RH Elizardo Ramirez 0-1, 1.29 LH Chase Wright 0-0, 2.25 KTOK AM 1000
Friday April 17 Memphis LH Derek Holland RH Blake Hawksworth KTOK AM 1000
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 12, 2009
- Beavers get four runs in the eighth, but settle for series victory over Grizzlies - Portland Beavers
- 'Topes drop third straight to O-Royals - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Reno drop series finale, 5-4 - Reno Aces
- Express drops opening series to Iowa - Round Rock Express
- Z's win in extra's - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Z's Score Six In Tenth To Down Sounds - Nashville Sounds
- Redbirds, RedHawks washed out - Memphis Redbirds
- Today's Colorado Springs vs. Las Vegas Game Postponed Due to Snow - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
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