PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs. Cubs - Game Notes - May 24, 2013

Published on May 24, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Today's Game: The RedHawks return to the midwest as they make their second trip to Des Moines this month and open a series against Iowa Cubs at 7:05 p.m. The teams will play five games in four days to make up for an earlier postponement.

Last Game: Mike Kickham and the Fresno pitching staff stifled the RedHawks offense as the Grizzlies won the series finale, 4-1. Kickham (3-4) allowed one run and four hits over 6.1 innings and only had one runner reach scoring position. The Grizzlies scored runs in the third and fifth innings, including a solo homer by Gary Brown. The RedHawks got on the board in the seventh via an Austin Wates RBI double to cut the lead to 2-1. Johnny Monell gave Fresno some cushion with a two-run homer in the eighth. Heath Hembree had no trouble closing out the game in the ninth to earn his 13th save. Despite turning in a quality start, RedHawks pitcher Jarred Cosart (4-2) picked up his second consecutive loss. He allowed two runs and six hits with two walks and six strikeouts over six innings.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Brad Peacock heads back to the mound after earning his first win in a RedHawks uniform...On Sunday against Sacramento, Peacock allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits over five innings. He breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum and throwing just 37 pitches. Although he labored through the next two frames and threw 59 pitches, he minimized damage and kept the RedHawks lead intact...Through his first three starts with the RedHawks, Peacock has held PCL opponents to a .230 batting average and has struck out 19 hitters over 16 innings. He is averaging almost four strikeouts per walk...Sunday marked the first time in his last four appearances he did not allow a home run. In Peacock's first 11 innings with OKC, he allowed three home runs and gave up 10 home runs total over his first 33 innings between the RedHawks and Astros...He made the Astros starting rotation out of Spring Training and went 1-3 with a 9.41 ERA before joining the RedHawks.

Against the Cubs: 2013: 1-2 2012: 12-4 All-time: 99-109 In Iowa: 46-60

The I-Cubs took two of three in a shortened series earlier this month due to inclement weather. The teams split a doubleheader before Iowa won the finale...It was the first series the Cubs had taken from the RedHawks since July 14-17, 2011, as Iowa had not won any of its previous six series against the RedHawks...The RedHawks were held to just seven runs over the those three games. Brett Wallace led the way by going 5-for-12, and he hit two home runs in the second game of the May 5 doubleheader...Former RedHawk Brian Bogusevic went 5-for-8 and reached base in nine of 12 plate appearances...Josh Vitters went 6-for-16 with two HR.

Big 12 = Big Trip: The RedHawks are in the middle of their annual 12-day road trip while the Big 12 Baseball Championship takes place at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The RedHawks completed the first two legs of the trip on the west coast, going 4-4 between Sacramento and Fresno. They'll finish with five games over the next four days against the I-Cubs.

Back to Reality: The RedHawks just wrapped up a stretch of 16-straight games against Pacific Conference foes, going 9-7 (5-3 home, 4-4 road). They will not play another Pacific Conference opponent until July 30.

180 at the Plate: On Tuesday and Wednesday, the RedHawks combined to score 22 runs and tally 23 hits, including four home runs. Last night they were held to one run and six hits, with no home runs.

Wally World: Brett Wallace has reached base safely in eight-straight plate appearances (four hits + four walks). He is riding a six-game hit streak, during which he has gone 10-for-24 (.417) with four extra-base hits. Over the first eight games of the current road trip, Wallace has hit two home runs and collected 11 RBI. Since joining the RedHawks on April 21, he has hit the third-most home runs (7) and has the fifth-most RBI (24) in the PCL.

Worth His Wates: Austin Wates has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 11-for-35 (.314). Last night he picked up his first two doubles since his promotion to OKC and became the third RedHawk with two doubles in one game this season.

Dinger Details: Although the RedHawks were held without a home run yesterday, their five homers in Fresno tied their highest total for a single series this season (@ Albuquerque, April 20-23). Seven of their last nine homers have come with at least one runner on base. Only nine of their first 24 dingers came with runners on base.

On the other hand, the pitching staff allowed two home runs yesterday, running the total to six against Fresno, also setting a new season high for one series. They have surrendered just 34 home runs this season, tied for third-least in the league.

Bases Loaded Bashers: The RedHawks have caught fire with the bases loaded. They are seven for their last nine with 16 RBI with the bases full going back to Austin Wates' game-winning single May 14 against Salt Lake.

At Your Own RISP: The RedHawks have held their opponents to a .181 average (23-for-127) with runners in scoring position over the last 14 games as well as a .184 mark (27-for-147) during the previous 17 contests.

Starting Line: RedHawks starting pitchers have pitched at least six innings in three-straight games for the first time this season since the team moved to a traditional five-man rotation on April 25. Before Tuesday, none of the five previous starts on the road

trip lasted longer than five innings, with three starts failing to complete five innings. The team is now 6-2 when the starting pitcher goes at least six innings.

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