PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs. Storm Chasers - Game Notes - July 25, 2013

Published on July 25, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Today's Game: The RedHawks close out their season series against Omaha at 7:05 p.m. at Werner Park. Oklahoma City leads the season series, 8-7. The RedHawks have already clinched a winning road trip, going 5-3 in Memphis and Omaha thus far.

Last Game: The RedHawks scored seven runs in the top of the eighth inning and went on to tally a combined nine runs and 10 hits over the final two innings in an 11-4 win against Omaha Wednesday at Werner Park. The RedHawks trailed, 4-2, entering the eighth and scored four times before an out was recorded in the frame. George Springer's RBI single tied the game and Jimmy Paredes notched the go-ahead hit. Leading, 7-4, with two outs later in the inning, Ruben Sosa sent a deep drive to right-center field and came all the way around to score for a two-run inside-the-park home run. OKC added two runs in the ninth, as the team finished the day with 16 total hits. The Storm Chasers connected on two home runs in the loss. RedHawks reliever Philip Humber (1-4) claimed his first win since July 28, 2012 by throwing three scoreless innings. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced and struck out four. Omaha reliever Michael Mariot (2-5) was credited with his third blown save, allowing five runs and five hits over one inning pitched.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Jake Buchanan looks for back-to-back wins as he makes his fifth start with OKC tonight...In his last start Saturday in Memphis, Buchanan picked up his second win with Oklahoma City after holding the Redbirds scoreless over six innings. He allowed five hits with five strikeouts. He uncharacteristically allowed four walks, tying a career high. It was the first time this season he walked more than one batter in a game...He has allowed just 14 walks all season in 106.0 innings pitched, averaging 1.19 per nine innings with a 4.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio...In 24.0 IP with the RedHawks, Buchanan has struck out 24 batters, including a career-high nine July 5 at New Orleans. He only averaged 4.8 strikeouts per nine innings earlier this year at Double-A...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)...Tonight is his first career start against Omaha.

Against the Storm Chasers: 2013: 8-7 2012: 6-10 All-time: 118-105 In OMA: 58-53

A win tonight would give the RedHawks a win in the season series for the first time since 2010 (9-7). The Storm Chasers have won four of the last five season series against OKC...Six of the first 15 meetings of the season have been decided by one run, with Omaha winning four of those games...The RedHawks had scored just 17 runs through their first six contests at Werner Park before yesterday's 11-run outburst. The teams had combined for just two home runs in those six games before combining for four dingers yesterday...Brandon Laird is batting .300 with 10 RBI, and eight of his 15 hits have gone for extra bases...Oklahoma City has outscored the Storm Chasers, 68-46...During the 2012 season series Omaha averaged 6.9 runs per game, but so far in 2013 they are averaging 3.07 runs per game and are batting .233.

We Still Support Oklahoma: The RedHawks and Storm Chasers will wear special jerseys tonight that will be auctioned off with proceeds going toward American Red Cross disaster relief efforts throughout the state. The RedHawks will wear jerseys with "We Are Oklahoma" on the front, and Omaha's jerseys will have "We Support Oklahoma" on the front. The teams also wore the jerseys in Oklahoma City on June 22.

Comeback Kids: Yesterday's comeback was the team's fifth win this season when trailing after seven innings -- tied for the most in the PCL. Four of those wins have actually occurred on the road.

Lucky 7 in a Crazy 8th: The RedHawks tied their season high for the most hits in one inning Wednesday when they rallied for seven hits in the eighth inning. They also notched seven hits in the first inning on July 3 against Albuquerque at home.

Inside-The-Park Particulars: Ruben Sosa's inside-the-park home run yesterday was the first home run of his professional baseball career. It happened in his 132nd career game and 402nd career at bat. It was the first inside-the park-homer ever hit at Werner Park (opened 2011) and the first by a RedHawk since Hernan Iribarren did it against Round Rock on April 13, 2010 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Even more remarkable is that's it's the first time an Omaha opponent has hit one since Edmonton's Michael Restovich on Aug. 28, 2002.

The Laird Up There: Brandon Laird has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .375 (15x40) with seven extra-base hits and seven RBIs. His two-run shot in the fourth inning yesterday moved him into the team lead with 12 homers. He also paces the team with 50 RBI, 26 doubles, and 50 runs scored. He is just one hit behind Jonathan Villar for the team lead (94).

Mound Magic: During the current road trip, the pitching staff has posted a 2.19 ERA (16 ER/65.2 IP). The starters have combined for a 2.28 ERA (12 ER/47.1 IP) and allowed more than two earned runs in a game just once during the trip.

A Healthy Inheritance: RedHawks relievers have allowed only four the last 30 inherited runners to score, including none of the last 19. The RedHawks have allowed only 34 percent of inherited runners to score throughout the season.

Dinger Details: The two home runs allowed by the RedHawks Wednesday were the first given up by OKC's pitching staff in six-straight games (seven including the recently suspended/completed game). Quintin Berry's two-run shot in the fourth ended a stretch of 69 innings without an opponent home run by the RedHawks, including the suspended/completed game. The 82 home runs surrendered this season are second-least in the PCL, and the 11 homers they've allowed this month are also second-least (Sacramento - 10).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Friday, July 26 7:05 p.m. Iowa LHP Wade LeBlanc (1-1, 6.43) RHP Justin Grimm (1-0, 1.59)

Saturday, July 27 7:05 p.m. Iowa LHP Brett Oberholtzer (6-6, 4.37) RHP Barret Loux (4-4, 4.19)

Sunday, July 28 6:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Asher Wojciechowski (5-4, 2.82) RHP Guillermo Moscoso (7-5, 3.93)

Monday, July 29 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Brad Peacock (6-2, 2.88) LHP Brooks Raley (6-7, 4.83)

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics

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