RedHawks Win Third Straight With Walk-Off Homer

Originally Published: Jun 28, 2010 10:17 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City RedHawks gave away their lead in the ninth inning, but Kevin Richardson got it back with a walk-off two run homer for a 4-3 win over the Omaha Royals Monday.

In what was a pitchers’ duel most of the night, the RedHawks (43-34) carried a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning and had not surrendered a hit since the sixth. But once Pedro Strop entered the game, he immediately got into trouble.

Strop walked the first batter he faced and gave up a single in the next at-bat, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Jai Miller drove both of them home with a triple to give the Royals (40-36) their first lead of the game. Miller was then caught stealing home, and Strop struck out the next batter to end the threat.

Ryan Garko started the bottom of the ninth with a walk, and Hernan Iribarren followed with ground ball that could have been resulted in a double play. But Iribarren raced down the line and beat out the throw to first, putting one runner on base for Richardson. He responded with just his third homer of the season to give OKC its third straight win.

Both starting pitchers began the game well, and the RedHawks broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth. OKC loaded the bases with nobody out, but was only able to get one run on an RBI groundout by Chad Tracy.

The Royals tied the game in the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Irving Falu, but Oklahoma City immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the inning. Mitch Moreland connected on an RBI double, and neither team scored again until the wild ninth inning.

Tanner Scheppers made his third start since joining the rotation and pitched well through his standard four innings of work. He hit a batter and walked another, but gave up only one hit and held Omaha off the board.

Strop (1-1) blew his fourth save of the season, but was credited with the win thanks to Richardson’s heroics. Josh Rupe (1-2) finished with the loss after entering in the ninth.

The RedHawks have now won each of the first three games of their series with the Royals, which will wrap up at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.