Game #49: Preview

After five consecutive wins, the Zs have looked a little sluggish since returning to Zephyr Field against the division leaders. They'll have Burke Badenhop, recently demoted from the big club, on the hill as they try to salvage a series split.

The Teams:
May 31, 1:00 CT
New Orleans Zephyrs: 22-26, third in the PCL South
Oklahoma City Redhawks: 28-21, first in the PCL South

The Pitching Matchup:
Burke Badenhop (--- ERA) vs. Tommy Hunter (2.91 ERA)

Badenhop has spent the lion's share of the past few years with Florida, but had been one of a cavalry of ineffective bullpen arms for the Marlins. He'll be trying to get some mojo back in AAA against a middle-of-the-pack OKC offense that has been sporting a couple hot hitters, notably Brandon Boggs and Chris Davis.

Tommy Hunter is 6'3", 280lb, so it's unlikely any Zephyrs will venture to charge the mound today. A 2007 supplemental first-round pick (for DeRosa leaving via free agency), he pitched 112 reasonably effective innings for Texas last year but didn't make the team out of spring with an oblique injury. He's a strong candidate to replace the ineffective Scott Feldman or Matt Harrison any day now, so he's got plenty of incentive to stifle a Zs offense that has been been pretty well smothered since returning to New Orleans.