RedHawks Game Notes
Published on August 18, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (64-58) at Oklahoma City RedHawks (63-58)
Game 122 | Aug. 18, 2009, 7:05 pm CDT | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, OK
News Radio 1000 KTOK, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers & Adam Marco
Today's scheduled starting pitchers:
RH Bryan Corey (6-5, 5.06) vs. RH Jhoulys Chacin (no record)
TONIGHT: Riding a season-high equaling 6-game winning streak, the RedHawks open a 4-game series with Pacific North Division leader Colorado Springs. It's the Sky Sox first visit to The Brick since June 2-5, 2007, when the RedHawks swept the Sox in a 4-game set. The Sky Sox lead their division by 5.5 games over Salt Lake and Tacoma. The RedHawks are second, 5 games back of Albuquerque in the American North. Colorado Springs will start 21-year-old righthander Jhoulys Chacin. It will be the No. 2 prospect's Triple-A debut after pitching in Double-A and the big leagues this season. OKC counters with veteran Bryan Corey, riding a 16-inning scoreless streak and back-to-back 7-inning scoreless starts on the recent trip to California.
Homestand Stats
AVG. G AB H R HR BB SO SB CS
OKC Hitting .225 4 129 29 18 1 22 29 5 0
ERA W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR
OKC Pitching 2.37 4-0 38.0 27 10 10 21 29 3
HAWKS SWEEP BEES: The RedHawks completed a 4-game sweep of the Salt Lake Bees with an 11-inning, 2-1 win yesterday. Jose Vallejo's one-out single off Francisco Rodriguez brought home the winning run in OKC's ninth walk-off win of the year. OKC pitching tossed 10 scoreless innings after a first-inning homer by Terry Evans off rehabber Brandon McCarthy, who went 4.2 innings (73 pitches) allowing that single run on 4 hits.
MORE CLOSE GAMES: OKC swept Salt Lake on the strength of Luis Mendoza's no-hitter (5-0 final) on Friday, followed by three one-run decisions. The RedHawks lead the PCL in one-run wins with a 25-12 mark. OKC has the second-most extra-inning wins in the league at 12-4 (Sacramento is 15-4). The RedHawks are tops in the PCL with a 13-3 mark in games tied after 8 innings.
MVP IN OKC: Nelson Cruz, the 2008 PCL MVP, is with the RedHawks rehabbing a sprained left ankle. Cruz was injured chasing a game-winning triple in Oakland Aug. 3. Cruz played 7 innings in right field yesterday his rehab debut, going 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.
STILL FOUR BACK: OKC has gained on Albuquerque in the American South Division race only once in the last 15 days. The RedHawks' picked up a game on Sunday to get within 4 of the Isotopes, but both teams won yesterday, so the margin remains at 4. The RedHawks have 23 games remaining (8 at home) and the Isotopes have 21 left, 13 at home. Albuquerque's magic number to clinch the division is 19 and the Isotopes hold the first tie-breaker (head-to-head record), having won the season series 9-7.
OKLAHOMA NOT OK FOR SOX: The RedHawks have won 8 straight games over Colorado Springs in the state of Oklahoma dating to the past two series here (2007 and 2005). The RedHawks swept the 2007 Sky Sox in 4 games at The Brick June 2-5. In 2005, OKC also swept a 4-game set, but two of the games were played at Drillers Stadium in Tulsa because of the Big 12 Conference Tournament. The Sky Sox have dropped 6 straight at The Brick dating to their last win here Sept. 2, 2004.
IS REALIGNMENT POSSIBLE? The RedHawks are 10-2 against Pacific North teams this season. Two of OKC's four series sweeps have come against teams from the Pacific North, with home sweeps over Portland and Salt Lake. OKC is batting a combined .272 (106-390) in its previous 12 games against Portland, Tacoma and Salt Lake, while the RedHawks' pitching staff has a 2.54 ERA in those games (31 ER, 110 IP). The RedHawks have out-scored teams from the Pacific North 51-34.
SMOAK SIGNALS: Justin Smoak had a 6-game hitting streak snapped yesterday by going 0-for-3 with 2 walks. The 6-game run was his best in Triple-A. Even with yesterday's hitless game figured in, Smoak has gone 10-for-23 (.435) with 4 RBIs over his last 7 games.
TUESDAY'S MOVES: Infielder Adam Fox and reliever Pedro Strop have been promoted to the RedHawks from Double-A Frisco. Beau Vaughan has been sent to Frisco to make room for Strop.
Guillermo Moscoso has been recalled by Texas.
UPCOMING PROBABLES:
Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio
Wed. Aug. 19 Colo. Springs RH Kris Benson 3-2, 4.85 RH Brandon Hynick 9-7, 3.52 KTOK AM 1000
Thursday Aug. 20 Colo. Springs RH Luis Mendoza 6-4, 4.04 RH Alan Johnson 9-6, 5.47 KTOK AM 1000
Friday Aug. 21 Colo. Springs RH Elizardo Ramirez 7-10, 4.86 LH Kurt Birkins 2-2, 3.75 KTOK AM 1000
Saturday Aug. 22 @ Omaha RH Brandon McCarthy 0-1, 6.23 KTOK AM 1000
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 18, 2009
- Sounds Would Host Games September 11-13 & 15-16 - Nashville Sounds
- Sky Sox Throw No-Hitter, Blank RedHawks 5-0 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Fresno rolls by Redbirds - Memphis Redbirds
- River Cats Edge Sounds In Series Opener, 11-9 - Nashville Sounds
- Aces Now Accepting 2010 Season Ticket Deposits - Reno Aces
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Alex Gordon Optioned to Omaha - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Cabrera Reassigned to Orem, Mendoza Joins Bees - Salt Lake Bees
- River Cats, Esurance Announce Finalists for "High School Heroes" Event - Sacramento River Cats
- Royals Open Final 2009 Home Stand on Saturday - Omaha Storm Chasers
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