PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes

Published on July 1, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (43-35) at Albuquerque Isotopes (39-38)

Game 79 | July 1, 2010, 8:05 pm CDT | Isotopes Park | Albuquerque, NM

News Radio 1000 KTOK, RedHawks Radio Network | Play-by-Play: Jim Byers & Judson Richards

RH Doug Mathis (3-3, 4.70) vs. RH James McDonald (4-1, 5.05)

TONIGHT: It's a meeting of the top 2 teams in the American South Division as the RedHawks begin a 3-game trip to Albuquerque leading the Isotopes by 3.5 games. The teams split a 4-game series in OKC June 10-13 are 4-4 against each other this season. The RedHawks return home for a series opener with Nashville on July 4. OKC enters the game after the league-wide day off on Wednesday having been shut out by a quartet of Omaha pitchers 5-0 on Tuesday at The Brick. OKC took 3 out of 4 from the Royals, but the RedHawks have been blanked 6 times this season including 3 of their last 6 contests. Each of their last 3 losses has been by shutout.

DAVIS ELECTED, KIRKMAN AND STROP SELECTED TO ALL-STAR TEAM: The RedHawks grabbed 3 places on the initial PCL team announced today for the Triple-A All-Star Game in Allentown, Pa., on July 14. Chris Davis was elected as the starting third baseman through the combined tally of media, field staffs/league GMs and online fan voting. Davis enters tonight's game tied for second in the league in hitting at .333. Starter Michael Kirkman, OKC's top winner with a 7-2 record while sporting the PCL's eighth-best ERA at 3.09, was selected to the pitching staff. Pedro Strop, who tops the team with 7 saves and earlier this season retired 24 consecutive batters, was also selected for the pitching staff.

LOOKING FOR A ROAD WIN: The RedHawks enter this abbreviated 3-game trip having dropped 3 straight road games and 6 of their last 8 away from home. On Tuesday, Omaha ended the RedHawks' 8-game home winning streak with a 5-0 final. The previous home streak matched the second-longest in RedHawks' history dating to the re-naming of the team in 1998 with the switch to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

MONTHLY TALLY: OKC entered June leading the American South by 1 game over Albuquerque and 6 games over .500 at 28-22. The RedHawks enter July atop the division by 3.5 games and 8 games over at 43-35. In June, OKC recorded the second-lowest league ERA (3.97).

The RedHawks' breakdown by month, with current league rankings in total column:

Month Record Avg. HR ERA

April 15-7 .290 24 2.97

May 13-15 .242 20 3.60

June 15-13 .271 31 3.97

Season 43-35 (2) .266 (T11) 75 (5) 3.55 (1)

ERA NO. 1: The RedHawks lead the PCL in team ERA at 3.55. Iowa is second at 3.86. OKC has allowed the fewest home runs in the league (42), 16 fewer than the closest team, Fresno. OKC has not allowed a 3-homer game this season, its high being 2 homers surrendered on 5 occasions including the most recent game on Tuesday vs. Omaha. The RedHawks' staff is second in strikeouts (576) behind Sacramento (598).

PETIT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: OKC shortstop Gregorio Petit is the PCL Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday. Petit became the fourth player in PCL history to record 2 grand slams in one game June 22 in New Orleans. For the week, Petit went 10-for-25 (.400) with 2 doubles, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Brandon Boggs was PCL Player of the Week for the period ending May 2. OKC has had 2 pitchers of the Week in Derek Holland and Michael Kirkman.

AGAINST THE 'TOPES: OKC and Albuquerque have split the first 8 games of the season series, all in OKC. Team ERAs are almost identical in the head-to-head series, 4.85 for Albuquerque and 4.86 for OKC. The RedHawks out-hit Albuquerque at The Brick .288 to .262, while the Topes slugged 9 homers to OKC's 6.

MORELAND A DOUBLE THREAT: Right fielder Mitch Moreland drove in 24 runs in June, tied for the third most in the league. Moreland and Chad Tracy share the team lead with 47 RBIs on the season. Moreland shares the league lead with Fresno's Ben Copeland in outfield assists with 10.

UPCOMING PROBABLES:

Date Opponent Oklahoma City Pitcher Opposing Pitcher Radio

Thursday July 1 @ Abq RH Doug Mathis 3-3, 4.70 RH James McDonald 4-1, 5.05 KTOK AM 1000

Friday July 2 @ Abq LH Michael Kirkman 7-2, 3.09 RH Claudio Vargas 0-2, 7.71 KTOK AM 1000

Saturday July 3 @ Abq RH Guillermo Moscoso 4-2, 3.92 RH Carlos Monasterios 0-0, 9.82 KTOK AM 1000

Sunday July 4 Nashville TBA LH Sam Narron 2-3, 3.64 KTOK AM 1000

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