PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks vs. Zephyrs - Game Notes - June 20, 2013

June 20, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Today's Game: Oklahoma City and New Orleans continue their series at 7 p.m. at Zephyr Field. The RedHawks will send Jarred Cosart to the mound, looking to bounce back after the Zephyrs scored four runs in the ninth to complete a comeback victory last night.

Last Game: Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, New Orleans catcher Kyle Skipworth hit a walk-off grand slam to give the Zephyrs a 4-3 win. The Zephyrs loaded the bases after a walk, an infield single, and a soft liner to right field with one out. Skipworth blasted the first pitch he saw well past the right field fence for his second home run of the season. Similar to Tueday's contest, the game was scoreless through six innings before the RedHawks scored three times in the seventh. Che-Hsuan Lin hit a two-out RBI double to make it 1-0. With the bases loaded and two out, New Orleans pitcher Chris Hatcher attempted a pickoff at first base, but nobody was covering at the bag. The errant throw allowed Lin to score, as did Robbie Grossman after Hatcher was called for obstruction during a rundown. RedHawks starting pitcher Philip Humber had his best outing of the season, throwing five scoreless frames. He allowed three hits with three walks and six strikeouts. The pitching staff finished with 12 strikeouts for the game and had held the Zephyrs 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position through eight innings. Jose Valdez (3-3) took the loss and the blown save.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Jarred Cosart takes the mound looking to lead the rebound effort...Cosart ranks seventh in the PCL in ERA (3.36), second in opponent batting average (.201) and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.27), but also ranks third in walks (42). He leads Oklahoma City with six wins, 69.2 innings pitched and 71 strikeouts...He won his most recent outing Saturday against Round Rock in Oklahoma City. He allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, with four walks and three strikeouts. It was the first time in four starts he went past 5.0 IP...All three of Cosart's losses this season have come on the road, but opponents are only hitting .197 against him away from Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark...New Orleans is one of the few teams to have success against Cosart this season. In a game on April 25 in OKC, the Zephyrs scored five runs before an out was recorded in the first. Cosart allowed a season-high six runs (five earned) over 4.1 innings, but did not figure in the decision.

Against the Zephyrs: 2013: 4-2 2012: 8-8 All-time: 125-114 In NEW: 56-64

The RedHawks won the first series between the teams by taking three of four in Oklahoma City, April 25-28. New Orleans won the series opener in 15 innings before the RedHawks won the final three straight. The 4-four, 54-minute game between the teams April 25 is the longest of the season for the RedHawks. OKC scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings...OKC hit .306 against the Zephyrs in their previous series, led by eight hits and six RBI from Jonathan Villar. OKC pitching held New Orleans to .222 hitting in the series...The RedHawks last played in New Orleans July 4-8, 2012, winning the series, 3-2...The Zephyrs homered 27 times against Oklahoma City last season, marking the most home runs given up by the RedHawks to a PCL team in 2012.

Eight's Not Enough: For the second time in four nights, and for the third time in the past 13 games, the RedHawks lost when leading after eight innings. Prior to this recent stretch, they were 24-0 when leading after eight and had won 38 straight games dating back to last season when leading heading into the ninth. In 2012, the RedHawks tied for the league lead with the most losses when leading after eight innings (6) and their nine losses the past two years in such situations is the most in the PCL. Closer Jose Valdez has converted just one of his last four save opportunities. He had been 12-for-14, with just one blown save when given a clean inning. He's allowed 11 runs his last two appearances after allowing nine runs over his first 25 games.

Late Inning Drama: Four of the last eight times the RedHawks have gone to the ninth inning in front, the opposition has tied or taken the lead. There were two other instances in which the opponent had the tying runs on base. Last night was also the fifth time this year the RedHawks have been involved in a game in which a team trailing in the ninth scored at least four runs, the second time by an opponent.

Walk-Offed: Yesterday was the first time since Aug. 6, 2012 the RedHawks were on the wrong side of a walk-off homer, when Salt Lake's Kole Calhoun hit one to give the Bees a 4-3 win in 10 innings.

Back and Forth: The RedHawks have yet to win consecutive games in June. They are 7-10 this month and even though they have not strung wins together, the RedHawks also have not lost more than two games in a row either.

Cracking the Goose Egg: Last night marked the sixth time this year the RedHawks had held an opponent scoreless through eight innings, but could not complete the shutout. The RedHawks have now lost two of those games.

Runnin' RedHawks of OKC The RedHawks stole five bases in Wednesday's loss--with four coming in the seventh inning alone--to end a stretch of three-straight games without a stolen base. It was also the second time in nine games Oklahoma City recorded five swipes in one contest. Oklahoma City leads the league with 97 stolen bases this season -- 18 more than Albuquerque, the next closest team. They are 14-for-16 in their stolen base attempts against New Orleans this year.

Booming Brett: Brett Wallace is batting .389 (14x36) during his current nine-game hitting streak -- his season best. Wallace leads the RedHawks with a .317 batting average and 10 home runs. He is tied with Marc Krauss for the team lead in RBI (35).

Linsanity: After not having a single plate appearance during the RedHawks last series because Justin Maxwell was on rehab assignment, Che-Hsuan Lin is 3-for-8 and collected the only two RBI by the team through the first two games in New Orleans.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Friday, June 21 7:07 p.m. @ New Orleans RHP Asher Wojciechowski (3-2, 3.02) RHP Jared Rogers (2-1, 4.79)

Saturday, June 22 7:05 p.m. Omaha LHP Brett Oberholtzer (4-6, 5.37) LHP Justin Marks (1-7, 6.29)

Sunday, June 23 3:30 p.m. Omaha RHP Brad Peacock (2-2, 3.44) LHP Chris Dwyer (5-5, 3.45)

Game 2 Omaha TBA RHP Brian Sanches (3-1, 4.10)

Monday, June 24 7:05 p.m. Omaha RHP Philip Humber (0-2, 5.73) LHP Everett Teaford (2-2, 2.79)

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 20, 2013


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