RedHawks Fall to Sacramento in Extra Innings

Originally Published: May 14, 2010 12:11 AM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City RedHawks scored four late runs to force extra innings, but could not generate any more offense on the way to an 8-5 loss to the Sacramento River Cats in 14 innings Thursday.

The RedHawks (20-14) entered the bottom of the seventh down 5-1, but mounted a late rally to tie things up. Wes Bankston started the scoring with a two-run double in the seventh, and Mitch Moreland added a two-run single in the eighth to tie it.

While the Oklahoma City pitchers held the River Cats (15-20) scoreless through the first four extra frames, the RedHawks’ hitters could not put anything together. A run in any of the innings would have meant a win, but they mustered only three hits after the eighth inning.

The RedHawks’ pitching finally fell apart in the top of the 14th, when Willie Eyre entered. Eyre surrendered a single and walk, and Michael Affronti brought the first run across with an RBI double. With runners on second and third, Eyre intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases and allow for the possibility of a double play.

Steve Tolleson responded with a clutch single to right field that brought home two more runners and gave Sacramento a three-run cushion. One of the runners was thrown out at third base on the play, and Eyre struck out a batter moments later to end the inning. But the damage had been done.

Esteban German drew a walk to lead off the bottom half of the inning and eventually stole second, but none of his teammates could advance him. Mickey Storey struck out Chris Davis and Chad Tracy back-to-back to end the game.

Eyre (1-3) was credited with the loss after giving up three runs on four hits in his one inning of work. Jon Hunton (2-0) earned the win after giving up just two hits in three innings, while Tolleson finished things off for his first save of the year.

The loss ended a two-game winning streak for the RedHawks, who will finish their series against Sacramento at 7:05 p.m. Friday.