PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs. Isotopes - Game Notes - August 20, 2013

Published on August 20, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Today's Game: The RedHawks close out their series with Albuquerque at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark trying for a five-game sweep of the Isotopes. Oklahoma City has won a club record 16 consecutive home games.

Last Game: The RedHawks took advantage of five walks and scored six times in the first inning to cruise to a 6-2 win against Albuquerque Monday. With one out in the bottom of the first inning, Jon Singleton, Jimmy Paredes, Che-Hsuan Lin and Rene Garcia drew four straight bases-loaded walks from Isotopes starting pitcher Stephen Fife to build a 4-0 lead. Fife exited the game at that point after throwing just eight of 34 pitches for strikes. A sacrifice fly by Ruben Sosa and a RBI single by Trevor Crowe pushed the RedHawks to a 6-0 advantage in the opening inning. Albuquerque scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut into Oklahoma City's lead, but never really threatened to take over. RedHawks starting pitcher Bobby Doran (2-0) pitched a season-high seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Jake Buchanan seeks his seventh consecutive quality start since the All-Star Break when he heads to the hill...In his last outing Aug. 15 in Tucson, Buchanan helped halt the team's five-game losing streak and pitched a season-high 7.2 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts...In six starts since the All-Star Break, Buchanan is 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA. Each start has been a quality start, and he has lasted at least seven innings in five of his last seven outings...Since joining the RedHawks, Buchanan is holding PCL opponents to a .167 average with runners in scoring position...Including his time with Double-A Corpus Christi, Buchanan has issued just 20 walks all season in 140.2 IP. He averages 1.3 walks per nine innings and owns a 4.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio...Before his promotion, Buchanan went 7-2 with one save and had a Texas League-leading 2.09 ERA in 18 games (13 starts) for Corpus Christi. He ranked first in the league in WHIP (0.93), fourth in average (.226) and fifth in innings (82.0)...He ranks second among Astros farmhands with both 12 wins and 140.2 IP...Tonight is his first career start against Albuquerque.

Against the Isotopes: 2013: 10-5 2012: 7-9 All-time: 92-82 In OKC: 53-33

With Monday's win, the RedHawks have won at least 10 games in a season against Albuquerque for the first time since 2005 when they went 11-5 against the Isotopes...Oklahoma City has won 11 of the last 12 meetings against Albuquerque in Bricktown, including the last six straight...The RedHawks are hitting .292 against the Isotopes this season, but Albuquerque has outscored Oklahoma City, 83-78...OKC has hit 13 home runs over the first 15 games between the teams while holding the Isotopes to just five homers...Last season, the Isotopes won nine of the first 12 meetings before the RedHawks ended the season series with a four-game sweep in OKC...Brandon Laird and George Springer have each slugged three homers against the Isotopes, and Laird has 10 RBI over 11 meetings...Albuquerque outfielder Matt Angle has worn out the RedHawks, batting .400 with two home runs, eight RBI, and a .538 on-base percentage. He hit .448 against OKC in 2012.

Friendly Confines: The RedHawks are on a club record 16-game winning streak at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, breaking the previous record of 14 straight home wins set last season. It is tied for the second-longest home winning streak in all of the Minors since 2005 (Low-A Greensboro, 2012) and only sits behind Low-A Cedar Rapids' 19-game run in 2010. During the current streak the RedHawks are batting .304 (153x504), including .336 (48x143) with runners in scoring position, and have a 2.63 team ERA (42 ER/144.0 IP). Their 42-22 home record is currently the best in the Pacific Coast League.

High-Water Mark: For the third time this season, the RedHawks are 18 games above .500. They have not been 19 games over .500 in a season since Sept. 5, 2004 (81-62).

Chasing the Crown: With 35 total home runs (16 with OKC), George Springer owns a four homer lead for the MiLB Joe Baumann Home Run Award. He has six homers in the last 11 games and has hit six of the RedHawks' last eight home runs. Springer has 100 RBI (fourth in the Minors) and scored 99 runs (tied for third in the Minors) during his time in Triple-A and Double-A combined. He is on the verge of becoming the first player above A-ball since Alex Liddi of Tacoma in 2011 to record at least 100 RBI and score at least 100 runs in a season. Springer also has 39 stolen bases and is the first player in the Minors to hit 30 home runs and steal at least 30 bases since former Oakland Athletics farmhand Grant Desme did so in 2009 (31 HR/40 SB).

Mound Turnaround: After posting a 7.74 ERA through the first seven games of their recently completed West Coast road trip, the RedHawks pitching staff has allowed 11 runs over the past five games with a 1.60 ERA (8 ER/45.0 IP) and a .184 average (29x158)...Albuquerque has been held to four hits or less in three of four games during this series and is batting .169 as a team.

Singles Club: Last night marked the second time in 20 games--and just the second time this season--the RedHawks played in a game in which neither team collected an extra-base hit. The Isotopes have only notched two extra-base hits over the first four games of the series (both doubles) and have been held without an extra-base hit three times.

Another Call to Arms: Earlier today the Houston Astros selected the contract of RedHawks pitcher David Martinez, making him the sixth pitcher called up to Houston since August 4. (With five not already on the 40-man roster.) Martinez, who is a combined 14-3 with a 2.20 ERA between the RedHawks and Double-A Corpus Christi, was supposed to start tomorrow's series opener in Round Rock.

Closing Bell: Oklahoma City is 21-11 overall in series finales this season, including 13-2 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The RedHawks seek their seventh series sweep of the season tonight and fourth straight series sweep at home.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Wednesday, August 21 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock TBA RHP Jake Brigham (5-3, 4.42)

Thursday, August 22 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Paul Clemens (3-1, 2.88) RHP Scott Richmond (4-6, 5.78)

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)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 20, 2013


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