RedHawks Coast to Easy Win in One-Hitter

Originally Published: Jul 19, 2010 10:51 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Oklahoma City RedHawks used superb pitching and a quick offensive start Monday to defeat the Iowa Cubs 8-0.

The RedHawks (52-41) were coming off a 17-run performance and flew out of the gates again. They scored five runs in the top of the first, capped by a grand slam from Max Ramirez, his first home run of the season.

Oklahoma City added two more runs in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Moreland and RBI triple from Jarrod Saltalammachia to stretch the lead to 7-0. OKC added another run in the sixth on an RBI single by Gregorio Petit, but none of those runs were necessary thanks to dominant pitching.

Three RedHawks pitchers combined to hold the Cubs (51-44) to just one hit on the night, and Omar Beltre (1-6) earned his first win of the season after being demoted by the Texas Rangers. He gave up the lone hit in five innings of work. Willie Eyre and Zachary Phillips combined to pitch a perfect final four innings.

Thomas Diamond (5-4) was credited with the loss after being roughed up in his four innings of work. He gave up all eight runs on eight hits and five walks in that span. Brian Parker and Brian Schlitter gave up just two hits for the rest of the night, but the damage was already done.

Monday’s game was the first of a five-game series that will continue with a doubleheader Tuesday to make up for a rained out game on May 10.