PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs. Sounds - Game Notes - August 26, 2013

Published on August 26, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Today's Game: The RedHawks return to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and open a four-game series against Nashville at 7:05 p.m., looking to extend their 17-game home winning streak. The first-place RedHawks have a seven-game edge on Albuquerque and Round Rock in the PCL American Southern Division standings with eight games remaining in the regular season. The RedHawks can clinch their first division title since 2010 with a win, coupled with a Rock Rock loss tonight.

Last Game: In Oklahoma City's final road game of the regular season, the Round Rock Express scored eight times with two outs in a 9-2 win Sunday at Dell Diamond. Round Rock took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when a wild pitch by RedHawks starter Jake Buchanan allowed Jim Adduci to score. The Express built on their lead with three consecutive two-out RBI singles in the fourth to take a 4-0 edge. Down 5-0 in the sixth, the RedHawks cut into Round Rock's lead with a two-run homer from Jose Martinez. Adduci answered with his own two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, and the Express tacked on two more in the eighth. Rehabbing Texas Rangers pitcher Michael Kirkman (2-2) got the win for Round Rock, holding the RedHawks to two runs and four hits. He walked two and struck out six. Buchanan (5-4) gave up a season highs seven runs and 11 hits, walked one, and struck out four in the loss.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Ross Seaton is set to make his second start since returning to the RedHawks...In his last start Aug. 21 at Round Rock, Seaton allowed two runs and seven hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out four and did not allow a walk to earn the victory in the team's 4-2 win...Tonight is his 13th start of the season with Oklahoma City and first in Bricktown since June 14...Before his return to the RedHawks, Seaton made nine appearances (eight starts) for Double-A Corpus Christi, going 2-1 with a 4.89 ERA. Over those nine outings with the Hooks, Seaton posted an impressive 34/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio...He has not lost since July 3 in Springfield and in his last eight starts between both levels, Seaton is 3-0 with a 4.47 ERA. Six of those eight starts lasted at least six innings, including five quality starts...In two starts against the Sounds, Seaton has had mixed results. He allowed one run over five innings on April 9 in Nashville, but he allowed seven runs and seven hits over just 1.2 IP on April 29 at home.

Against the Sounds: 2013: 9-3 2012: 13-3 All-time: 136-116 In OKC: 72-52

The RedHawks swept their first home series against the Sounds, April 29-May 2, winning all four games. Entering tonight, the RedHawks have won nine straight against the Sounds at home...The teams last played in Nashville June 27-30, with Oklahoma City winning the series, 3-2...Nashville is batting just .224 and the RedHawks have held the Sounds to two runs or less in six of 12 meetings with a 2.80 team ERA...Oklahoma City has scored five or more runs in seven of 12 games against the Sounds this season and has outscored Nashville, 58-36...Including this season, the RedHawks have won the season series in five of the past six years.

Friendly Confines: The RedHawks currently own a club record 17-game home winning streak at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. It is the second-longest home winning streak in the Minors since 2005, trailing only Low-A Cedar Rapids' 19-game run in 2010. During the current streak the RedHawks are batting .299 (160x535), including .336 (51x152) with runners in scoring position, and have a 2.76 team ERA (47 ER/153.0 IP). Their 43-22 home record is currently the best in the Pacific Coast League.

High-Water Mark: The RedHawks currently own the best record in the PCL and have won nine of their last 11 games overall. Oklahoma City has tied its win total from the 2012 season (78), and the RedHawks have a chance to become just the fourth squad in team history to reach at least 80 wins (1999 - 83; 2004 - 81; 2005 - 80).

Chasing the Crown: George Springer still owns a three home run lead for the MiLB Joe Baumann Home Run Award and leads the Minors with 37 homers this season (Triple-A and Double-A combined). He tallied his 42nd stolen base of the season Saturday and has joined Ruben Rivera and Darryl Strawberry as the only minor leaguers over the past 40 years with at least 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season. Springer 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). He has eight homers in the last 17 games and has collected 105 RBI (third in the Minors) and scored 102 runs (fifth in the Minors) overall this season, making him the only player currently in affiliated baseball (Majors or Minors) to have 100 of each.

Amador's Arrival: Japhet Amador is off to a nice start, going 3-for-8 with an RBI over his first two games. The Astros recently signed Amador from the Mexican League, where he hit .368 with 22 doubles, 36 home runs, 121 RBI and a .419 OBP in 104 games for the Diablos Rojos this season. Amador led the Mexican League in RBI, ranked second in homers and third in total bases (277).

Dinger Details: Jose Martinez hit his fifth home run of the season Sunday, marking the team's 11th homer in the last 11 games. They hit six homers during their last series, tying their high for the most in one series this season, last done June 14-17 vs. Round Rock...On the other hand, the team also allowed seven homers during the last series, marking the most dingers allowed in a series since giving up nine, also June 14-17 against the Express in OKC.

Berger King: Reliever Eric Berger has not been scored upon in seven of his last eight outings. During the eight-game stretch, Berger has allowed one run (solo HR) and four hits with 15 strikeouts over 12.1 IP.

Not as Easy as 1-2-3: The RedHawks pitching staff has not recorded a 1-2-3 inning in either of the past two games. In six of the 17 innings, they have retired the first two batters, but have been unable to retire the third batter.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Tuesday, August 27 7:05 p.m. Nashville TBA LHP Zach Kroenke (5-15, 4.67)

Wednesday, August 28 7:05 p.m. Nashville RHP Asher Wojciechowski (9-6, 3.48) RHP Alfredo Figaro (0-0, 3.38)

Thursday, August 29 7:05 p.m. Nashville RHP Bobby Doran (3-0, 3.96) LHP Aaron Laffey (6-8, 6.82)

Friday, August 30 7:05 p.m. Memphis RHP Jake Buchanan (5-4, 3.88) TBA

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 26, 2013


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