RedHawks Sweep Isotopes for Fifth Consecutive Victory
Oklahoma City - Domingo Santana hit a late go-ahead RBI double, and the Oklahoma City RedHawks escaped a ninth-inning jam to edge the Albuquerque Isotopes, 2-1, in front of 4,524 fans at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The RedHawks (74-66) have now won five straight games, including a four-game sweep of Albuquerque (59-79). It's the third series sweep of the season for the RedHawks.
Oklahoma City entered the game leading the Omaha Storm Chasers for first place in the American Northern Division standings by one game. Omaha was scheduled to play in Reno late Wednesday night.
The game was tied 1-1 in the eighth inning when Preston Tucker and Matt Duffy drew consecutive walks with one out. Santana then hit a RBI double to deep right field to put the RedHawks in the lead, as Santana collected his 11th RBI of the eight-game homestand.
After Andrew Aplin was intentionally walked, the bases were loaded for Carlos Perez. Albuquerque reliever Red Patterson got Perez to hit into an inning-ending double play, keeping the RedHawks ahead by one.
Leading off the top of the ninth, Alex Guerrero hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position. After a groundout by Mike Baxter, Guerrero was at third with one out.
RedHawks reliever Jorge De Leon entered the game forced a pop out by Walter Ibarra and a fly by Carlos Triunfel to close out the victory.
Until Santana's RBI double, the RedHawks had been scoreless since first inning. In the bottom of the first, Joe Sclafani notched a one-out double, extending his on-base streak to 41 games. Two batters later, Tucker brought Sclafani home with a RBI single, giving Oklahoma City a 1-0 lead.
The RBI was Tucker's 30th of August, becoming the first RedHawk with 30 RBI in a month since 2007.
The RedHawks maintained a 1-0 lead until the top of the sixth. Tim Federowicz walked before Clint Robinson singled to center field. Jamie Romak brought Federowicz home with a sac fly to tie the game.
That run was the lone blemish on another stellar start by Rudy Owens. Owens pitched 7.2 innings and scattered six hits with two walks. He established a new season high with nine strikeouts in the no decision.
Jason Stoffel (5-4) ended up with the win for the RedHawks after he replaced Owens in the eighth inning.
Rob Carson (2-6) took the loss for Albuquerque. Although he did not allow a hit, walked three batters of 1.1 innings and was charged with the deciding run.
The RedHawks will not play Thursday and end the regular season with a four-game road series against the Iowa Cubs beginning Friday at 7:05 pm.
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