Big Offense Leads RedHawks To Win

A six-run fifth inning by the Oklahoma City RedHawks broke open Sunday's game, but the RedHawks had to hold off a late charge by the Las Vegas 51s in an eventual 13-9 RedHawks win at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The RedHawks (38-33) tallied 11 straight runs to build a 10-run lead through five innings in front of a crowd of 5,600.

Sunday's 13 runs set a new season high for the RedHawks and marked the most runs by the team since a 24-5 win Aug. 3, 2013 against Colorado Springs in Bricktown.

The RedHawks recorded 16 hits in the win as eleven RedHawks batters collected at least one hit, led by L.J. Hoes who went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Kiké Hernandez, Gregorio Petit and Marc Krauss each finished the night with three RBI. Hernandez knocked a two-run home run in the third inning and Petit belted a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Hernandez,

The 51s (40-30) chipped away at the RedHawks lead with eight runs between the sixth and eighth innings, to cut the Oklahoma City advantage to three runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Las Vegas scored first Sunday. Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered into the RedHawks bullpen in left field for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The home run was the first allowed by RedHawks starting pitcher Jake Buchanan since April 25.

RedHawks catcher Max Stassi connected on a line-drive double to center field. Domingo Santana slid safely into home plate and avoided a tag from 51s catcher Juan Centeno to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second.

Hernandez hit his two-run homer on a fly ball that fell beyond the RedHawks bullpen in left field for a 3-1 RedHawks lead in the third inning. The RedHawks have now homered in five straight games and have 13 home runs in the last eight games.

Preston Tucker and Santana followed with a single and double, respectively, before Marc Krauss connected on a two-run double for a 5-1 Oklahoma City advantage in the third.

Tucker and Santana led off the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back walks. Krauss then hit a RBI single, giving the RedHawks a 6-1 edge with none out.

Hoes added a RBI single before Petit followed with a three-run homer to left field for a 10-1 edge in the fifth with one out. The homer extended Petit's hitting streak to eight games. Since May 29, he has hit safely in 12 of 13 games and is batting .400 in the month of June.

A RBI single by Hernandez brought home the sixth run of the inning for OKC for an 11-1 lead.

Las Vegas designated hitter Travis d'Arnaud answered with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to cut the RedHawks lead to 11-4. The first four runs of the night for Las Vegas came on home runs.

The teams exchanged runs in the seventh inning, before the 51s added four runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Nieuwenhuis hit a RBI double with two outs. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Juan Centeno reached on a fielding error by RedHawks third baseman Joe Sclafani that allowed two runs to score. Daniel Muno then hit a RBI single to cut the RedHawks lead to 12-9.

In the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hitter Matt Duffy hit a RBI single for the 13th run of the night for the RedHawks.

Buchanan (6-4) pitched 7.0 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits to earn his team-leading sixth win of the season. He walked one and struck out four.

Ross Seaton pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing four runs (one earned) and three hits before Andrew Robinson made his season debut with the RedHawks and earned a save, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings.

Las Vegas starting pitcher Giancarlo Alvarado (2-3) allowed eight runs on eight hits over four-plus innings. He walked four and struck out one in the loss.

The RedHawks conclude their eight-game homestand and four-game series against Las Vegas at 7:05 p.m. Monday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Oklahoma City leads the series, 2-1.