PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs. Express - Game Notes - August 22, 2013

Published on August 22, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Today's Game: The RedHawks try to extend their seven-game winning streak as they continue their five-game series in Round Rock at 7:05 p.m. Oklahoma City owns a seven-game lead over the second-place Express in the PCL American Southern Division standings.

Last Game: The RedHawks used a three-run second inning and another strong effort on the mound to defeat Round Rock, 4-2, at Dell Diamond Wednesday. After having none on with two outs in the top of the second inning, the RedHawks rallied for three runs. Jimmy Paredes and Marc Kraus each drew walks, and Rene Garcia followed with an RBI single. Che-Hsuan Lin stepped up next and delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 3-0. Round Rock's Zach Zaneski homered in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-1, but Paredes answered with a homer of his own on a deep fly ball to center in the sixth to regain a three-run edge. The Express scored in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single by Chris McGuiness to once again cut into the RedHawks' lead. OKC starting pitcher Ross Seaton (3-6) returned to Triple-A and allowed two runs and seven hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out four and did not allow a walk in the win. Jorge De Leon notched his fourth save with the RedHawks after tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Paul Clemens looks for back-to-back wins when he starts for the first time this season against the Express...In his last start Aug. 17 against Albuquerque, Clemens allowed one unearned run over a season-high 6.2 innings. The two hits he allowed were both singles and came consecutively in the fourth inning. Only two Isotopes reached scoring position, and he retired nine of the final 10 hitters he faced...Clemens has not allowed an earned run in three of his four starts since returning to the RedHawks in late July and has held PCL opponents to a .197 average...Although Clemens has been extremely successful at home over the past two seasons with OKC (7-2, 2.35 ERA), he has struggled on the road, going 4-7 with a 9.37 ERA over 14 starts...Clemens spent most of the season as a reliever with Houston, where he made 30 appearances with a 4-4 record and a 6.36 ERA...He made two starts against Round Rock last season, going 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA.

Against the Express: 2013: 6-6 2012: 10-6 All-time: 74-65 In RR: 37-30

In their most recent series, the RedHawks won two of three games at Dell Diamond July 8-10. OKC pitched shutouts in the first and last games, but the Express exploded for 11 in the middle contest. During that series, George Springer went 6-for-11 with three homers, a triple, and seven RBI...The road team is 8-4 this year, and Round Rock more than doubled its win total in OKC from 2012 (2), going 5-3...The Express has notched 11 or more runs in a game three times and outscored the RedHawks, 70-58. Round Rock has 15 homers against OKC, while the RedHawks have 12 in the 2013 series...OKC has not lost the season series in five of the last six years...Round Rock is once again led by Bobby Jones, the legendary RedHawks skipper who compiled 595 wins and five division titles over eight seasons. He also managed the team when they were the 89ers in 1993-1994.

Lucky Sevens: The RedHawks are in the midst of their third winning streak of at least seven games this season. They won also seven straight April 26-May 2 and recorded a club-record 12 straight wins July 26-August 6.

Tales From the Trail: With Wednesday's victory, the RedHawks have won back-to-back road games for the first time since winning three straight July 20-22 in Memphis and Omaha. Their 33 road wins match their total from 2012, but the RedHawks have not won at least 34 road games in one season since 2008 (36).

High-Water Mark: The RedHawks currently own the best record in the PCL, and this is the first time the team has been 20 games over .500 in a season since Sept. 4, 2004 (81-61).

Chasing the Crown: George Springer collected his 36th homer of the season (Triple-A and Double-A combined) Tuesday night and owns a three homer lead for the MiLB Joe Baumann Home Run Award. He has seven home runs in the last 13 games and has hit seven of the RedHawks' last 10 homers. He has collected 102 RBI (fourth in the Minors) and scored 100 runs (also fourth in the Minors) overall this season, making him the only player currently in affiliated baseball (Majors or Minors) to have 100 of each. Springer also has 39 stolen bases and is trying to become the first Minor League player with a 40/40 season since Len Tucker of the unaffiliated Class B Pampa Oilers in 1956 (51 HR/47 SB).

Paredes Pop: Last night Jimmy Paredes connected on his first home run since July 25 in Omaha. Seven of his eight home runs have come on the road this season. Last night was surprisingly the first time he scored twice in a game since April 27 vs. New Orleans.

Linsanity: Che-Hsuan Lin is 7-for-16 with six RBI during his current five-game hitting streak. He is batting .333 in August, well above his previous best monthly mark of .244 in May.

Mound Turnaround: After posting a 7.74 ERA through the first seven games of their West Coast road trip Aug. 8-14, the RedHawks pitching staff has allowed 18 runs during their current seven-game winning streak with a 2.14 ERA (15 ER/63.0 IP) and a .214 opponent average (49x229). During the streak, the RedHawks have only allowed seven extra-base hits (six doubles, one HR).

Dinger Details: Zach Zaneski's solo homer in the third inning yesterday is the only home run the RedHawks have allowed in their last seven games. The 95 homers they've surrendered this season are just behind co-league leaders Memphis and Omaha (94).

No K Jose: Jose Martinez has struck out just once in his last 67 plate appearances. He is averaging one K per every 13.9 PA's.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Friday, August 23 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Asher Wojciechowski (8-6, 3.52) RHP Josh Lindblom (8-2, 2.74)

Saturday, August 24 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Bobby Doran (2-0, 3.86) RHP Evan Meek (6-7, 3.74)

Sunday, August 25 6:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Jake Buchanan (5-3, 3.25) LHP Michael Kirkman (1-2, 7.85)

Monday, August 26 7:05 p.m. Nashville RHP Ross Seaton (3-6, 8.15) RHP Jimmy Nelson (3-6, 4.09)

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