RedHawks pregame notes: August 18
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Notes heading into tonight’s second game of the RedHawks’ four-game series with Reno (7:05 tonight, AT&T Bricktown Ballpark):
-Rich Harden, who was briefly scheduled to start yesterday’s game, will be on the mound tonight for the RedHawks as he starts his second rehab stint with the team. Harden went on the DL for the second time this season Sunday, this time with right shoulder tendinitis. Instead of sending Guillermo Moscoso out after Harden, the right-hander will pitch Thursday.
For the Rangers, Harden is 4-4 with a 5.19 ERA. In his first game back after his initial DL stint, Harden through seven innings, giving up just one run. But in his second, Aug. 7 at Oakland, Harden couldn’t make it out of the third inning and gave up three runs and walked five. The 28-year-old right-hander was 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA for the RedHawks in July, finishing with six innings at Memphis on July 26, where he allowed no runs and struck out 10.
-Brandon McCarthy‘s shoulder has responded well recently as he’s ramped up his workload in anticipation of being activated. As hoped, McCarthy will start Friday in the series finale against the Aces. McCarthy is 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA in seven appearances this year. But the right-hander has been bothered by shoulder ailments all season, resulting in three separate trips to the DL. Omar Beltre, who was scheduled to start Thursday, has been pushed back another two days and will pitch Saturday in the series opener in Round Rock.
-Nearly half of the tonight’s RedHawks lineup is made up of guys that were not here a week ago. It would’ve been half if James Tomlin wasn’t getting the night off in right field. Tonight’s new addition is Alex Cora, who was signed as a free agent Tuesday. Cora will start at second base and hit eighth. Cora was hitting just .207 with the Mets before being released earlier this month.
But Cora said his numbers were a bit deceiving, as he felt good about his approach and he was hitting with runners on base. His numbers back that up, as Cora was hitting .300 with runners in scoring position this season. He’d driven in 20 runs in 187 at bats with the Mets. Cora’s time with the RedHawks might not last long, as he could be a more valuable bench piece for the Rangers than Joaquin Arias.
With Cora’s arrival, Guilder Rodriguez was sent back to Double-A Frisco. Rodriguez hit .254 in 21 games with the RedHawks. He also stole four bases and was solid in the field filling in where needed.
-Matt Brown has been moved down in the order to sixth after his recent struggles at the plate. One of the RedHawks top hitters in July (.339/.376/.505), Brown has cooled off. In his last 10 games, the 28-year-old is hitting just .105 (4 for 38) with just one extra-base hit.
-Matt Treanor is back in the lineup tonight for his second rehab game. Treanor caught five innings in Monday’s game but sat out Tuesday in favor of Max Ramirez.
-Pedro Strop is back with the RedHawks after being optioned from Texas to make room for Derek Holland, who started for the Rangers on Wednesday.
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