RedHawks Game Notes
Published on April 28, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (8-9) at Omaha Royals (10-8)
Game 18 | April 28, 2009, 12:05 pm | Rosenblatt Stadium | Omaha, NE
Fox Sports Radio AM 1340, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers
Today's scheduled starting pitchers:
RH Elizardo Ramirez (0-2, 4.11) vs. RH Brandon Duckworth (0-1, 9.53)
TODAY: The Oklahoma City RedHawks and Omaha Royals conclude a compressed, rain-shortened 3-game series with an afternoon finale at Rosenblatt Stadium. The teams split a doubleheader Monday night, with Omaha taking the opener 8-1 and the RedHawks getting a 7-inning complete game in the nightcap from Doug Mathis in a 2-1 decision. The entire PCL has its first off day of the season tomorrow. OKC remains the top club in the American South Division by a half-game over Albuquerque. Omaha is tied with Memphis for the second in the American North, 2.5 games back of Iowa.
HOCHEVAR, FELIZ A MARQUEE MATCHUP: Last night's first game pitted the Rangers' top prospect, Neftali Feliz, against the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, Luke Hochevar. Hochevar went 6 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 unearned run in an 8-1 Omaha win. Hochever has won all four 2009 starts and lowered his ERA to 1.44. Feliz (1-1) allowed 5 unearned runs on 3 hits in 2.2 innings for the loss (more below).
MATHIS SHINES IN GAME 2: OKC righthander Doug Mathis tossed a complete game in a 2-1 RedHawks win in game 2. It was OKC's first complete game since Dustin Nippert's 7-inning no-hitter, also at Rosenblatt Stadium, in game 1 of a doubleheader June 29, 2008. Mathis (1-1) allowed just 1 run on 6 hits in 7 innings, with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. Max Ramirez gave the RedHawks a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out single and Mathis made the lead hold up despite allowing a run in the fourth. OKC had 3 singles in the first inning against Heath Phillips (1-2), but did not have a hit in the final 6 innings against Phillips, Greg Atencio or Dusty Hughes.
FELIZ'S STARTS GETTING SHORTER: Last night's 2.2-inning start by Neftali Feliz was his shortest of the season despite his high pitch count of 2009 (88, of which 53 were strikes). In 4 starts this year, Feliz has gone (in order) 4 IP, 5 IP, 3 IP and 2.2 IP. Last night, he threw 50 pitches in the third inning alone, while facing 8 batters and retiring 2. A leadoff error by German Duran, followed eventually by 5 runs scoring after 2 were out, made all the runs unearned. But twice Feliz was one strike away from ending the inning unscored upon, only to allow a 2-run double to Chris Lubanski on a 1-2 pitch and hit Cory Aldridge with the bases loaded on the same count.
KA'AIHUE AT-BAT GOES ALMOST NINE MINUTES: In last night's third inning, which saw Neftali Feliz deliver 50 pitches and Thomas Diamond offer 12 more, one at-bat by Omaha first baseman Kila Ka'aihue against Feliz with one out and runners at first and second accounted for 13 pitches, 8 foul balls (including 5 straight on a 2-2 count) and 8:40 of elapsed time from first pitch until ball four hit catcher Kevin Richardson's mitt.
BOGGS IS BACK: Outfielder Brandon Boggs was activated yesterday from the Bereavement List and in the nightcap 2 saw his 14-game on-base streak end. Infielder Scott Thorman was released to make room for Boggs.
DOT...DOT...DOT: The PCL did not feature a complete game until yesterday, when the RedHawks' Doug Mathis and Portland's Matt Buschmann each went the distance in doubleheader games...Buschmann's came in a 4-3 Portland loss to Salt Lake in game 1 when he pitched 6 innings on the road and a 7th inning was not needed...dropping yesterday's opener meant OKC fell to 0-5 in series openers...the RedHawks' 2-1 win in the nightcap improved their record in one-run games to 3-3 and dropped the Royals' mark to 0-6 in such contests...all 3 OKC wins in one-run games have been at Omaha's expense...a win today would give the Hawks their first series win and first set of consecutive road wins this season.
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
Thursday April 30 New Orleans LH Michael Ballard 1-1, 3.09 RH Brett Sinkbeil 1-3, 10.70 KTOK AM 1000
Friday May 1 New Orleans RH Jared Hyatt 0-1, 1.59 LH John Koronka 0-1, 4.76 KTOK AM 1000
Saturday May 2 New Orleans RH Doug Mathis 1-1, 2.16 RH Dallas Trahern 1-1, 4.32 KTOK AM 1000
Sunday May 3 New Orleans RH Neftali Feliz 1-1, 4.30 RH Daniel Barone 1-2, 5.17 FOX AM 1340
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 28, 2009
- Tacoma Takes One from Colorado Springs, 6-3 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Redbirds top Express 3-1 to earn series split - Round Rock Express
- Padres Select Arturo Lopez, Option Drew Macias To Portland - Portland Beavers
- Isotopes Close Out Road Trip With 4-2 Win Over Z's - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Zephyrs Remain Winless At Home - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Split Series With Cubs With 7-4 Win - Nashville Sounds
- RedHawks Upcoming Promotions - Oklahoma City Comets
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Bees Hold Off Beavers Twice, Sweep Twin-Bill - Portland Beavers
- Aces Tripped Up By Grizzlies, 6-0 - Reno Aces
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