RedHawks Game Notes
Published on April 13, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (1-2) at Nashville Sounds (1-3)
Game 4 | April 13, 2009, 6:00 pm | Greer Stadium | Nashville, TN
Fox Sports Radio AM 1340, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers
Tonight's scheduled starting pitchers:
LH Derek Holland vs. RH Tim Dillard
TONIGHT: Pushed back a day because of Sunday afternoon's rainout in Memphis, lefthander Derek Holland will make his Triple-A debut tonight as the RedHawks open a four-game series against the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). 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.
HEAD TO HEAD: Derek Holland has not only never faced the Sounds, he hasn't faced a Brewers' affiliate in his brief career, which began in 2007. Holland has pitched in the Northwest, Midwest, California and Texas Leagues, none of which have had a Milwaukee affiliate in the past two seasons. Tim Dillard faced Oklahoma once in relief last season, allowing 1 run on 3 hits in 2 IP in a no decision. Joaquin Arias went 1-for-2 with a single off Dillard, while Ben Harrison tripled in his only at bat. Against the 2007 RedHawks, none of whom are with the current team, Dillard went 1-1 with a 6.38 ERA in 4 games, 3 starts.
NASHVILLE TURNAROUND: In 2008, the RedHawks went 14-2 against Nashville, which included winning the first 10 meetings. That was in contrast to the first three years the Sounds were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers (2005-07), when the Sounds went 32-18 in the regular season against the RedHawks. During that era was also a 3-2 Nashville series win over Oklahoma in the American Conference Championship Series in 2005.
RUN IN FIRST HOLDS UP: Memphis scored a first-inning run on Saturday and made it stand as three Redbirds pitchers blanked 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.
SAVING ONE HOUR: While each of the last two Oklahoma City games lasted 9 innings, the time it took the play them was radically different. Saturday's game, featuring just 2 walks and 8 hits combined between the two teams, lasted just 2 hours and 6 minutes. Friday, the teams combined for 13 walks and 18 hits in a 3-hour, 6-minute contest.
BIG FLIES? The RedHawks have gone the length of the young season, 3 games and 28 innings, without hitting a home run. Oklahoma City is the only homerless team in the PCL.
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 in the last game on Saturday.
LIVING FOR THE "CITY:" 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" name, including the Triple-A 89ers from 1962-1997.
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, 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 around Oklahoma will 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
Tuesday April 14 @ Nashville RH Luis Mendoza LH Sam Narron 0-0, 5.40 FOX AM 1340
Wed. April 15 @ Nashville RH Doug Mathis 0-0, 3.00 RH Mike Burns 0-0, 9.00 FOX AM 1340
Thursday April 16 @ Nashville RH Neftali Feliz 0-0, 0.00 LH Chase Wright 0-0, 2.25 KTOK AM 1000
Friday April 17 Memphis RH Elizardo Ramirez 0-1, 1.29 TBA KTOK AM 1000
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- Z's fall in Memphis - New Orleans Baby Cakes
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- Gamel Homers Again In Sounds' 4-3 Win - Nashville Sounds
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