RedHawks Fall To Zephyrs

The New Orleans Zephyrs broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning and hit two home runs in a 4-2 win Saturday against the Oklahoma City RedHawks in front of a sellout crowd of 10,163 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

RedHawks infielder Brandon Laird belted a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the ninth, but the RedHawks (51-45) were unable to rally, as the Zephyrs (48-49) took a 3-1 lead in the five-game series.

Nick Green tallied the game-winning run for New Orleans when he led off the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run to left field for a 2-1 Zephyrs lead.

Five of the Zephyrs 10 hits in the game were for extra bases, including two triples and two home runs.

New Orleans took the first lead of the game on a RBI triple by Matt Downs in the third inning and ended a streak of 16 consecutive scoreless innings for RedHawks starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski. Wojciechowski threw a one-hit, nine-inning shutout in his previous outing, but did not get a decision Saturday, allowing one run on five hits, striking out three and walking two in six innings.

The RedHawks' lone run of the game came in the fifth. Jimmy Paredes singled to lead off the inning. He stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Zephyrs catcher Kyle Skipworth. Paredes then scored on a RBI groundout by Jose Martinez to tie the game, 1-1

Green's homer broke the tie in the seventh before a RBI groundout by Jordan Brown scored Bryan Petersen for a 3-1 Zephyrs' lead in the eighth. A solo home run by Skipworth boosted New Orleans to a three-run lead in the top of the ninth.

Paredes and Ruben Sosa led the RedHawks with two hits apiece Saturday.

Relief pitcher Hector Ambriz (0-1) was credited with the loss for Oklahoma City. He pitched two innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out two and allowing one home run.

New Orleans starter Jay Jackson, who was assigned to the team from Double-A Jacksonville Saturday, notched the win. Jackson (1-0) allowed one run and five hits in 6.2 innings, striking out three and walking two.

Oklahoma City's series against New Orleans concludes with a 6:05 p.m. game Sunday. Kids can run the bases after the game.