RedHawks' Offense Recovers to Beat Sacramento

Originally Published: May 11, 2010 10:52 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a four-game span of weak offense, the Oklahoma City RedHawks recovered for 15 hits Tuesday in a 9-6 victory over the Sacramento River Cats.

The River Cats (14-19) began the game with a bang, with leadoff hitter Kurt Suzuki working a full count and blasting a home run to give Sacramento a quick 1-0 lead.

The RedHawks (19-13) responded with a fast start of their own, with Esteban German and Gregorio Petit leading off the bottom of the first with back-to-back hits, and Chris Davis driving both of them in with a double to take a 2-1 lead.

Sacramento retook the lead in the top of the second by manufacturing three runs on only two hits. After a walk and throwing error put two River Cats on base, Suzuki connected on a double to drive in both runners. Suzuki later scored on a single by Jack Cust to give the River Cats a 4-2 lead.

Oklahoma City answered again with two more runs of its own in the bottom of the inning, thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles by German and Petit to tie the score. The seesaw battle continued in the fourth inning, when OKC pitcher Michael Kirkman started having major control issues.

Kirkman walked four consecutive batters, which allowed Corey Wimberly to score and give the lead back to Sacramento. Chris Carter added a sacrifice fly that scored Suzuki, giving the River Cats two runs in the inning despite not recording a hit. In fact, they would not register a hit for the rest of the game.

The RedHawks responded once more with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on RBI doubles by German and Nelson Cruz to tie the game at 6-6. OKC finally took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run by Petit and RBI double by Jarrod Saltalamacchia to finish the scoring.

Kirkman left after four innings of work, and Elizardo Ramirez, Willie Eyre and Alexi Ogando combined to pitch a perfect finial five innings. Ramirez (2-0) was credited with the win after pitching three innings, and Ogando finished things off in the ninth for his first save of the season.

The RedHawks’ offensive surge came after they combined to score just eight runs in their previous four games, a stretch during which they went 1-3. They will continue their home stand against Sacramento at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday.