PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

RedHawks Top Z's to Even Series

Published on June 12, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


Mike Hessman homered for the third time in three games against New Orleans, Jimmy Paredes had four hits, and the Oklahoma City RedHawks outlasted the Zephyrs on Tuesday night at Zephyr Field in a game filled with oddities.

After narrowly missing a home run down the left field line leading off the top of the second inning, Hessman drilled the next offering from Zephyrs starter J.D. Martin deep over the wall, giving the RedHawks a 1-0 lead.

It was the 18th home run of the season for Hessman, second-most in the Pacific Coast League.

Oklahoma City tacked on three more runs in the third. Scott Moore was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Hessman followed with a single up the middle to score another. Brad Snyder's sacrifice fly put the RedHawks ahead, 4-0.

Martin started a Zephyrs rally in the bottom of the third, getting the team's first hit with one out and moving to third on a double by Kevin Mattison. After Bryan Petersen lifted a sacrifice fly to center, Scott Cousins walked and Mike Cervenak delivered a two-run single, drawing the Zephyrs within a run.

Nick Green, the hero of Monday's walk-off victory, then hit a fly ball to deep center that barely eluded the glove of a leaping J.B. Shuck for a two-run homer, vaulting the Zephyrs into the lead.

The lead was short-lived, however. Martin allowed singles to Shuck and Landon Powell to lead off the inning, and RedHawks pitcher Paul Clemens tied the game with a sacrifice bunt, as Shuck scored with nobody covering the plate. And then things began to get weird.

Robert Ray was summoned from the bullpen and struck out Brandon Barnes before issuing a walk to Moore on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt.

Oklahoma City manager Tony DeFrancesco emerged from the dugout and had a brief discussion with home plate umpire Joel Hospodka, who moments later ruled that Zephyrs catcher Luke Montz had retrieved the ball with his mask, a rules violation that resulted in the runners advancing one base, bringing in the go-ahead run.

A throwing error by Matt Dominguez opened the door for a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning, as well as more controversy. With Clemens again squared to attempt a sacrifice bunt and was hit by a pitch, though Montz argued the ball hit the guard protecting Clemens' arm.

The RedHawks took advantage of the call, as Jimmy Paredes laced a two-run single to right, and Montz was ejected following the final out of the inning.

Oklahoma City's offense continued to roll in the sixth when Shuck hit a two-run double over the head of center fielder Kevin Mattison, extending the lead to 10-5.

Mattison got two runs back in the bottom half of the frame, hitting a two-run homer, his sixth of the year. Mattison also doubled twice and scored twice.

RedHawks reliever Mickey Storey struck out the side in the seventh and recorded the first two outs in the eighth before turning the game over to Fernando Abad, who worked around a single by Cervenak and a walk to Green with one out in the ninth to record his second save.

Clemens (8-4) picked up the win despite allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings.

For the second consecutive start, Martin (3-6) was charged with six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, and took the loss for New Orleans.

The rubber game of the abbreviated three-game set is Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., with right-hander Alex Sanabia starting for the Zephyrs against RedHawks lefty Wes Musick.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2012


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