PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Redhawks vs. Redbirds Tonight

Published on June 2, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


TONIGHT:

The RedHawks open a 4-game series against the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The RedHawks are 3-4 against Memphis this season, including a split of a 4-game set in OKC April 17-20. This is the Redbirds' final visit to Oklahoma City this season. The teams conclude the regular season at AutoZone Park Sept. 4-7. OKC righthander Josh Rupe gets the start, his first of the year against Memphis. Rupe was wrapping up a stint with Texas when the teams last played in April. Righthander Clayton Mortensen goes for Memphis. Mortensen faced OKC on April 19, taking the loss in a 6-0 OKC win, but allowed just 1 earned run (2 total) in 7 innings. The RedHawks are third in the American South Division, 4.5 games back of Albuquerque. Memphis is second in the American North, a half-game behind Nashville.

ISOTOPES WIN THIRD STRAIGHT:

Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger pitched a 9-inning complete game, limiting OKC to 4 hits, in yesterday's 4-2 Isotopes win in the series finale. After winning the first 2 games of the series, the RedHawks dropped the last 3. In his Triple-A debut, OKC righthander Omar Poveda (0-1) went 7 innings, allowing all 4 runs on 5 hits. Poveda walked the leadoff hitter in the third and fourth innings and each eventually scored to put Albuquerque up 2-0. The Isotopes added a run in the fourth and another in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. The RedHawks scored twice in the seventh, on an Emerson Frostad triple and a Joaquin Arias sacrifice fly, to complete the scoring. Haeger needed 124 pitches to complete the 9 innings. Both of his complete games this season have been in 9-inning games. OKC's Doug Mathis shares the lead with Haeger in complete games, but both of Mathis' have been 7 innings.

NEW TERRITORY:

The RedHawks' 21-29 record marks their lowest point below .500 this season. The previous 4 times they dropped 7 games under they won their next game. OKC is 4.5 games out of first place for the second time this year. The only other day they've been this far back was following a May 11 loss at Round Rock.

TRIPLECAST:

OKC has tripled in 7 of its last 10 games. The RedHawks are tied for fifth in the league with 16 triples.

FINALLY A FAST ONE:

Yesterday's 2-hour, 7-minute game was the RedHawks' second-fastest 9-inning game of the year, longer by minute than a 1-0 loss in Memphis April 11. The shortest duration of the previous 11 games (scheduled for 9 innings) was 2:52 on Sunday against Albuquerque.

HOME RUN VOIDS:

Teams in this series are the stingiest in PCL in giving up home runs. The RedHawks have allowed the fewest, 27, while Memphis has surrendered 28. OKC's hitters have the PCL's fewest home runs (20). Memphis has the third-fewest at 32. Nate Gold has both of OKC's home runs in the past 10 games (May 25 and May 28).

LEADERS:

Esteban German tops the team with 26 RBIs. German leads the club with 17 stolen bases and a .302 batting average. He's also eighth in the PCL in on-base percentage at .423 and tied for third in walks with 33. Brandon Boggs is second in the league in walks with 34, 12 behind Omaha's Kila Ka'aihue. OKC leads the league in bases-loaded walks with 13.

ODDS AND ENDS:

Seven of the last 11 OKC games have been decided by one run...OKC is 2-5 in those recent one-run decisions and 9-9 on the year overall...Memphis has the PCL's lowest team ERA, 3.55...Sacramento is the only other club in the league under 4 at 3.91...OKC is seventh at 4.38...The RedHawks are 14th in the league in team batting (.251), while Memphis is 15th (.244). OKC (69) and Memphis (66) are the bottom 2 teams in the league in doubles.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 2, 2009


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