RedHawks Game Notes
May 10, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release
Oklahoma City RedHawks (18-13) vs. Iowa Cubs (13-17)
Game 32 | May 10, 2010, 12:05 pm CDT | Principal Park | Des Moines, IA
1340 AM Fox Sports, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers
LH Michael Kirkman (4-0, 1.82) vs. LH J.R. Mathes (3-3, 5.20)
TODAY: The RedHawks wrap up an 8-game trip with the fourth and final game of this series against the Iowa Cubs. OKC is 1-2 in Iowa and 3-4 on the trip. Yesterday, the RedHawks dropped a 6-1 decision at Principal Park. Lefthander Michael Kirkman brings a 22.2-inning scoreless streak into today's game. Kirkman has not allowed a run since the second inning of a start in Nashville April 20. He has gone 3-plus starts without allowing a run. Lefty J.R. Mathes is slated to start for Iowa.
RUN LEAD SHRINKS: Entering Thursday's games, the RedHawks had scored 26 more runs than the next closest team, Albuquerque. Entering today's play, OKC's run lead has shrunk to 1, 175-174, as the Isotopes have scored 29 runs in the last 2 days while OKC was plating 5. The RedHawks lead the PCL in home runs (31), triples (14) and walks (121), while second in on-base percentage (.352) and slugging (.440). The RedHawks have out-scored the opposition 175-126, owning the best run differential (+49) in the league.
MOUND MARKS: The RedHawks are second in the league in team ERA at 3.38. OKC pitchers have the second-most strikeouts (224) behind Sacramento's 241. The RedHawks are tied with New Orleans for the fourth-fewest home runs allowed with 19.
BULLPEN BASHERS: The RedHawks have scored more runs against opposing teams' bullpens than starting staffs this season. Of OKC's league-leading 175 runs, 92 have been against relievers, with 83 charged to starters. OKC has collected 139 hits in 103.1 innings against the league's collective relief corps, while amassing 153 hits in 171 innings vs. starters. The RedHawks have failed to score against an opponents' bullpen just 7 times in 31 games, going 1-6 in those contests including a loss yesterday when blanked by a pair of Iowa relievers.
LONG NAME, LONG STREAK: Jarrod Saltalamacchia extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in yesterday's ninth inning. Saltalamacchia's streak is the third-longest in the league this season. Only Colorado Springs' Matt Miller, at 17 games, has a longer active streak. Miller's streak is the best in the PCL this season. Memphis' Jon Jay is second with a 16-game streak from April 8-24. During the current streak, Saltalamacchia is 22-for-59 (.373) with 3 homers and 9 RBIs. Since first joining the team April 20 on rehab (he has since been optioned) Saltalamacchia is batting .367, which is the sixth-best average in the league in that time period. Saltalamacchia has reached by hit or walk in all 16 games played.
ADD STREAKS: Three RedHawks bring double-digit on-base streaks into today's game, in addition to Saltalamacchia's streaks mentioned above. Brandon Boggs has reached in 11 straight, Mitch Moreland has a 12-game on-base streak, while Esteban German is working on a 13-game on-base stretch.
MAY MALAISE: After a torrid April featuring the PCL's second-best record (15-7), most home runs (24) and second-best ERA (2.97) and team batting average (.290), the RedHawks have slipped to a 3-6 mark in May with a 4.44 ERA and .240 team average.
ODDS AND ENDS: Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, the 2008 PCL MVP, is scheduled to join the RedHawks for a rehab assignment Tuesday and play the first 2 games of the Sacramento series...Cruz is on the DL with a strained right hamstring...Hernan Iribarren leads the PCL with 5 sacrifice flies...Esteban German is tops in the league with 25 runs scored...Chris Davis homered in his first RedHawks game April 24, since then he has gone 13 games and 56 official at bats without a homer...In his 2008-09 stints in Triple-A, Davis averaged a homer every 17.25 official at bats...Davis is batting .339 (19-for-56) in that span however, which is the 26th-best average in the PCL during that time...OKC is 4-5 in day games this season and 14-8 at night.
UPCOMING PROBABLES:
Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio
Tuesday May 11 Sacramento RH Guillermo Moscoso 1-2, 3.64 RH Graham Godfrey 1-2, 3.86 KTOK AM 1000
Wed. May 12 Sacramento LH Michael Ballard 2-1, 4.68 LH Lenny DiNardo 1-4, 4.66 1340 Fox Sports
Thursday May 13 Sacramento RH Tommy Hunter 0-0, 0.00 RH Clayton Mortensen 4-1, 4.66 KTOK AM 1000
Friday May 14 Sacramento TBA RH Vin Mazzaro 2-1, 2.67 KTOK AM 1000
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 10, 2010
- Express Drop Finale 12-4 to Redbirds - Round Rock Express
- Angels Recall Bell, Option Quinlan To Salt Lake - Salt Lake Bees
- Sounds Slip Past 'Topes 7-6 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Bark In The Park At Security Service Field Returns - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Kazmar Leads Beavers To Dramatic Win - Portland Beavers
- Rainiers Drop Series Finale With Las Vegas - Tacoma Rainiers
- Sounds Slip Past 'Topes, 7-6 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Bark In The Park At Security Service Field Returns - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Kazmar Leads Beavers To Dramatic Win - Portland Beavers
- Koshansky Hits Game-Winning Homer In Sounds Win - Nashville Sounds
- Beavers Walk-Off With 4-3 Win Over Aces - Reno Aces
- Pill's Doubles Spree, Ray's Gem Earn Pair Weekly Honors - PCL1
- Aces Homestand To Feature 50-Cent Hot Dogs, Fireworks, Youth Days - Reno Aces
- Brett Pill Wins PCL Player Of The Week - Fresno Grizzlies
- Thompson Placed on DL, Diaz and Smith Join Bees - Salt Lake Bees
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Iowa and Oklahoma City Rained Out - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
- Royals, Zephyrs Rained Out Monday - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Monday's Game Postponed - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
