PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs, Round Rock Express Tonight

Published on July 17, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


TONIGHT: Veteran righthander Kris Benson makes his second start since being activated from the DL in Game 2 of a 4-game set at Round Rock. OKC took the first game last night 7-5 in 14 innings and has won 5 straight over the Express and 3 straight overall. The RedHawks are at .500 for the fifth time this year, but have yet to get above .500. OKC remains in second place, 1 game back of Albuquerque in the American South. Round Rock is fourth, 7.5 games back. The Express will start righthander Felipe Paulino in his first Round Rock outing since being optioned by Houston just before the break. OKC is 6-3 vs. Round Rock, but 2-3 at Dell Diamond.

RICHARDSON'S HOME RUN ENDS A MARATHON: Kevin Richardson's second home run of the game gave OKC the lead for good in a 7-5 win in 14 innings last night. Richardson's solo shot followed a 2-run blast in the third inning. All 5 Round Rock runs came in the seventh, when Clayton Hamilton and Warner Madrigal failed to hold a 4-0 lead. The inning was capped by Tommy Manzella's grand slam off Madrigal with two outs to give the Express a 5-4 lead. OKC tied the game in the top of the eighth on a two-out double by Jose Vallejo against Casey Daigle, who like Madrigal took a blown save out of the 4-hour, 14-minute stalemate. Round Rock left the bases loaded against Brian Gordon in the 12th and again in the 14th against Bryan Corey (4-4), who escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam for the win. Jeremy Johnson (5-8) allowed both runs in the 14th after tossing 3 perfect innings for the loss.

FIRST MULTI-HOMER GAME: Kevin Richardson's 2 homers last night gave OKC its first multiple-homer game of the season by an individual. The RedHawks have hit a league-low 41 home runs, including a team-high 9 by Richardson. OKC has matched a season high by homering in each of its last 4 games.

MANZELLA HALTS MAD DOG'S STREAK: Tommy Manzella's grand slam last night, the second allowed by OKC this season, ended Warner Madrigal's 10-1 inning, 10-outing scoreless streak. Madrigal was charged with 2 of the runs. Madrigal has surrendered 4 home runs in 32.2 innings in Triple-A this year and the 4 homers have accounted for 6 of the 8 runs he's allowed.

PROVIDING RELIEF, MOSTLY: While it did allow all 5 runs last night to briefly relinquish the lead, OKC's bullpen emerged with a win. The RedHawks' pen has not had a losing decision since June 17. Each of the RedHawks last 9 losses has gone to the starting pitcher. The relief corps has earned 7 wins since its last loss.

KEEPING IT IN THE PARK, MOSTLY: OKC pitching has allowed 56 home runs, tied with Las Vegas for the fewest in the league. OKC had gone 3-plus games and 39 innings without allowing a home run until Tommy Manzella's slam in last night's seventh inning.

HUFFMAN AT 11: Royce Huffman has hit safely in 11 straight, going 14-for-44 (.318) with 1 homer and 5 RBIs. Huffman's streak is the team's second-longest this year behind Esteban German's 13-game run from June 26-July 10.

GERMAN THE PCL'S TOP STAR: OKC's Esteban German had yesterday off after returning from the Triple-A All-Star Game, where he was the Major League Baseball Advanced Media's PCL Top Star in a 6-5 loss in Portland. German went 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBIs while playing the entire game at third base. German has hit safely in 15 of his last 16, going 23-for-63 (.365) with 11 RBIs. German is tied for sixth in the league in batting with a .319 average, second in the PCL in on-base percentage at .423 and fourth in walks with 52.

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 17, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central