PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes

Published on April 19, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Memphis Redbirds (6-3) at Oklahoma City RedHawks (4-5)

Game 10 | April 19, 2009, 4:05 pm | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, OK

Fox Sports Radio AM 1340, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers & Adam Marco

Today's scheduled starting pitchers:

RH Luis Mendoza (1-0, 0.00) vs. RH Clayton Mortensen (1-0, 1.80)

TODAY: Oklahoma City will try for the fourth time to win its first set of back-to-back games as it hosts the Memphis Redbirds in a late-afternoon start for game three of the four-game series. The RedHawks are 4-5 on the season, but have not won consecutive games, losing April 11 in Memphis, April 15 in Nashville and April 17 at OKC following wins the night before. Righthander Luis Mendoza, victorious in his first start of the year on Tuesday at Nashville with 5 scoreless innings, will face Memphis for the first time in his career. Clayton Mortensen will face the RedHawks for the first time.

RICHARDSON AND RELIEVERS KEY SATURDAY WIN: OKC catcher Kevin Richardson made his first start of the year last night after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in February and went 2-for-3 with a 2-run homer in the RedHawks' 8-3 win to even the series at 1-1. Scheduled starter Derek Holland had his contract purchased by Texas during the day and joined the Rangers' bullpen, necessitating an all-bullpen pitching night headed by Thomas Diamond, who went 2 innings before a 1:06 rain delay. Kason Gabbard followed, then Beau Vaughan tossed 3.1 scoreless innings for the win. Derrick Turnbow and Pedro Strop finished up with 1 inning each as Memphis was limited to 7 hits.

TOPS IN ERA: RedHawks pitching allowed 3 runs last night, but only 2 were earned, dropping the team ERA to a league-best 2.87. The Portland Beavers are second at 2.94. Beau Vaughan and Iowa's Jose Ascanio are tied atop early ERA qualifiers with a 0.00. Vaughan has worked 8.1 innings and Ascanio 8.0. Neftali Feliz is tied for seventh with a 2.00 ERA. For the season, the RedHawks' starters are 2-4 with a 2.79 ERA. The bullpen is a collective 2-1, 2.97. The relief corps has allowed 26 hits in 36.1 innings.

MORE PITCHING: The RedHawks' staff has allowed the fewest hits (66) and earned runs (25) in the PCL. OKC is tied with Portland for fewest total runs allowed with 32. The bullpen has been used for 15 innings in the past two games with the spot start last night and a 3-inning start by Elizardo Ramirez on Friday.

TRUE RELIEF: Beau Vaughan entered in last night's fourth inning with the bases loaded and did not allow any of the inherited runners to score. For the season, the RedHawks have stranded 12 of 13 inherited runners.

BOGGS WALKS SOME MORE: RedHawks outfielder Brandon Boggs drew two more walks last night, giving him 10 on the season. Boggs shares the league lead in walks with Omaha's Kila Ka'aihue. Boggs has reached base in all 9 games.

A BIG SACRIFICE: OKC shortstop Joaquin Arias had a rare 2-run sacrifice fly last night in the sixth inning against Memphis reliever Marco Gonzalez. Arias lifted a deep drive to near the wall in right-center, scoring Kevin Richardson easily from third. The long throw from center fielder Jon Jay was cut off deeply enough in right-center to allow Julio Borbon to score from second base. Arias leads the RedHawks with 7 RBIs.

MORE MOVES: After not having a transaction in the first 6 days of the season, OKC has had nine moves in the past five days, counting today. German Duran was activated today from the DL and outfielder Ben Harrison was placed on the DL, retroactive to April 17, with right hamstring tightness. Yesterday, LHP Derek Holland had his contract purchased by Texas and reliever Beau Vaughan was promoted from Double-A Frisco. Vaughan had been transferred to Frisco the day before and did not appear in a game for the RoughRiders.

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 PROBABLES:

Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio

Monday April 20 Memphis RH Doug Mathis 0-1, 2.25 TBA FOX AM 1340

Tuesday April 21 Omaha RH Neftali Feliz 1-0, 2.00 LH Heath Phillips 1-1, 4.50 KTOK AM 1000

Wed. April 22 Omaha RH Elizardo Ramirez 0-2, 3.60 RH Brandon Duckworth 0-1, 8.59 KTOK AM 1000

Thursday April 23 Omaha TBA LH Bruce Chen 0-0, 3.60 FOX AM 1340

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 19, 2009


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