RedHawks Winning Streak Ends in Rout

Tacoma scored 10 runs in the final four innings to blow the game open.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:24 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: May 12, 2011 11:55 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City RedHawks’ three-game winning streak came to an end in resounding fashion Thursday with a 13-3 blowout loss to the Tacoma Rainiers.

The RedHawks (16-18) stayed close for the majority of the game, and headed into the sixth inning down just 3-0. But the Rainiers (13-22) opened the floodgates after that.

The teams traded runs in the sixth inning to make it 4-1, and Tacoma’s true outburst began in the seventh. Johan Limonta drove home a run with a single, and then Franklin Gutierrez broke things open with a bases clearing three-run double to stretch the lead to seven.

Once the runs started pouring in, the RedHawks could not stop them. Tacoma score three more times in the eighth and added another two in the ninth to mercifully finish the barrage of late runs.

Oklahoma City was forced to use a total of five pitchers, and only one reliever lasted for longer than an inning. Douglas Arguello (2-3) finished with a loss, despite having a relatively strong start. He only gave up three runs on five hits in five innings, but he left with OKC trailing.

The RedHawks used four pitchers in the final four innings, and they combined to surrender 10 runs on 10 hits. Tacoma’s 13 runs are the most the RedHawks have allowed all season.

Oklahoma City entered the night on a three-game winning streak, and with one more win could have gotten back to .500 on the season. The RedHawks now will have to lick their wounds before completing their four-game series with the Rainiers at 7:05 p.m. Friday.