RedHawks Earn Series Split With Three-Run Win

Originally Published: Aug 7, 2010 11:37 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SALT LAKE CITY – The Oklahoma City RedHawks completed a series split with a 5-2 victory Saturday over the Salt Lake City Bees Saturday.

The night began as a pitchers’ duel, with the game remaining scoreless until the fourth inning. The RedHawks (60-53) broke into the run column with an RBI single by Max Ramirez, and a wild pitch in the next at-bat brought Brandon Boggs home to give OKC a 2-0 lead.

The RedHawks doubled the lead with two more runs in the sixth, starting with a two-run double by Boggs. He then scored on a single by Hernan Iribarren.

The Bees (59-56) finally got on the board thanks to a strange play to begin the seventh inning. Michael Ryan lined a double to right field, and a fielding error by Boggs advanced Ryan to third. RedHawks third baseman Esteban German was then called for interference on the same play, allowing Ryan to advance home and score an unearned run.

Salt Lake added a second run in the eighth on an RBI single by Luis Figueroa, but the RedHawks immediately responded with an insurance run in the ninth. After a walk, single and error loaded the bases, Matthew Brown was hit by a pitch to bring home an unearned run and stretch the lead to 5-2.

Pedro Strop then pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth, striking out the final two batters he faced to earn his 10th win of the season.

Derek Holland (6-2) finished with the win after holding Salt Lake City scoreless through his six innings of work. Matt Palmer (1-1) was credited with the loss despite giving up just two earned runs on four hits.

The win concluded a four-game split, and Oklahoma City will now travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Sky Sox starting at 6:05 p.m. Sunday.