OKC Dodgers Game Notes - May 1, 2016
May 1, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release
Oklahoma City Dodgers (12-9) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (14-8)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Kansas City Royals
Games #22 & 23 of 144/Road #15 & 16 of 72 (9-5)
Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Sam LeCure (0-1, 4.42) vs. OMA-LHP Brian Flynn (1-1, 5.73)
OKC-RHP Jeremy Kehrt (2-1, 3.86) vs. OMA-RHP Luke Farrell (1-0, 4.19)
Sunday, May 1, 2016 | Werner Park | Papillion, Neb. | 12:35 p.m. CT
Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman
Today's Game: The Dodgers and Storm Chasers will play a doubleheader today to make up for last night's rainout. Both games are scheduled for seven innings. This is the first doubleheader of the season for both teams.
Last Game: Back-to-back bases-loaded walks in the top of the 12th inning by Elian Herrera and Rico Noel broke a tie, and a sliding catch in the bottom of the inning by James Ramsey ended the game with the bases loaded, as the Dodgers defeated Omaha, 5-3, Friday night at Werner Park. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI double by Zach Walters. O'Koyea Dickson extended the lead in the second inning when he sent a line drive into the left field bleachers for his first home run of the season. Down 3-1 in the eighth, the Storm Chasers tied the game on back-to-back home runs by Jose Martinez and Brett Eibner. The Dodgers had multiple chances to go back in front before finally converting in the 12th. The Storm Chasers loaded the bases with one out in the 12th, but Luis Avilan (SV, 1) retired the next two batters to close out the game. With two away, Whit Merrifield sent a fly ball to right field, and Ramsey -- who had just entered the game -- made a sliding catch near the foul line. Chin-Hui Tsao (1-1) picked up his first win of the season after holding the Storm Chasers scoreless in the 10th and 11th innings. Omaha reliever Malcom Culver (1-1) was charged with the loss.
Today's Probable Pitchers: Sam LeCure (0-1) makes his fifth start of the season in game one, seeking his first win...On Monday in Iowa, LeCure allowed five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out six over five innings in a no decision. He gave up his first two home runs of the season...After not allowing a run or walk, and a total of five hits over his first two appearances, LeCure has given up nine runs, 14 hits and six walks over his last two outings (9.1 IP)...LeCure started his season with 12 consecutive scoreless innings and did not walk any of the first 39 batters he faced...Prior to this season, LeCure had not started a game since April 27, 2011 for the Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee...He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers April 6...LeCure spent Spring Training with Arizona, appearing in eight games before being released March 28...LeCure spent the majority of the 2015 season in the Reds organization with Triple-A Louisville, going 5-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 41 relief appearances, but also made 19 appearances with Cincinnati, going 0-2 with a 3.15 ERA...Today marks his first career appearance against the Storm Chasers.
Jeremy Kehrt (2-1) is scheduled to start game two...Kehrt is coming off a win Tuesday at Iowa. He allowed two runs and six hits over six innings in OKC's 4-2 victory. Kehrt struck out eight Iowa batters, marking his highest strikeout total since April 21, 2010 while pitching for High-A Salem vs. Lynchburg...Over his first 21 innings, Kehrt has induced a league-leading six ground ball double plays...Lefties are just 5-for-28 (.179) and all opponents are batting .182 with runners in scoring position...Kehrt spent the entire 2015 season with Double-A Tulsa and went 7-8 with a 3.46 ERA over 119.2 IP. He was selected as a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star and ranked among Texas League qualifiers in WHIP (1.22, 3rd), ERA (4th), starts (22, T-10th) and strikeouts (94, 10th)...Kehrt was originally selected in the 47th round of the 2008 draft by the Red Sox and traded to the Dodgers on Aug. 9, 2014...Today is Kehrt's first career appearance against Omaha.
Against the Storm Chasers: 2016: 1-1 2015: 6-10 All-time: 132-126 At Omaha: 66-65
The Storm Chasers won the 2015 series, 10-6, and won nine of the final 10 meetings. They have now won two straight season series against OKC...The Storm Chasers have won seven of the last nine games against the Dodgers at Werner Park, including the last five of the last six...The Dodgers had all sorts of trouble slowing down the Omaha bats last season, as the Storm Chasers scored 85 runs (5.3 per game) and batted .331 as a team. Eventual PCL batting title winner Jose Martinez hit .451 with 12 RBI over 14 games...Austin Barnes hit three home runs in just six games...Omaha is 4-0-1 in season series with OKC over the past five years.
Double Dipping: The Dodgers will play their first doubleheader of the season today, with another currently scheduled on the books (June 9 vs. Nashville). Last season the Dodgers played seven doubleheaders, going 8-6 overall with a 3-2-2 record for the sets (3-5/1-2-1 on road). The Dodgers and Storm Chasers played three doubleheaders last season, with Omaha sweeping twice (both at Werner Park) and the teams splitting once.
A Simple Winning Formula: On Friday the Dodgers defeated the Storm Chasers for just the second time in the past 12 meetings, in large part because they were able to keep the Omaha offense in check. The Storm Chasers did finish with 12 hits over the 12-inning contest, but batted .255 (12x47) and were held 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Over the previous 11 meetings, the Storm Chasers batted .392 (149x380), including .413 (57x138) with runners in scoring position.
Streaking Segedin: Rob Segedin tied a career high with four hits Friday night and extended his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games. It was the third four-hit game of his career, and his first since May 8, 2014 for Double-A Trenton vs. Reading. He also scored three runs for the second time in the past four games...During the streak Segedin is batting .444 (24x54) with 11 extra-base hits, 10 RBI, 14 runs scored and seven multi-hit games. Although his RBI streak was halted at six games Friday night, Segedin has scored at least two runs in five straight games (12 total)...Segedin is currently 12th in the PCL with a .359 average and his 28 hits rank tied for seventh. His four triples pace the PCL and his 13 total extra-base hits are tied for second-most in the league. His .679 slugging percentage and 53 total bases both rank third in the league.
Kontakt Issues: Over 12 innings Friday night, the Dodgers struck out eight times, marking the first time they had fewer strikeouts than innings played in a game since April 20 (eight games). They lead the PCL with 217 strikeouts so far this season (10.33 per game). Overall, they have struck out at least 10 times in 12 of the first 21 games of the season...On the other hand, the Dodgers pitching staff notched its second game with at least 15 strikeouts Friday night and their ninth double-digit strikeout game overall. They currently rank third in the PCL with 187 strikeouts this season.
Odds and Ends: OKC finished with a winning record in April for the fifth consecutive season (12-9)...The Dodgers have allowed 11 home runs through the first six games of the current road trip. They had allowed six home runs total over their first 15 games. OKC has allowed at least two homers in four of the six contests, including each of the past two games.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER
Monday, May 2 7:05 p.m. New Orleans TBA TBA
Tuesday, May 3 7:05 p.m. New Orleans TBA TBA
Wednesday, May 4 11:05 a.m. New Orleans LHP Julio Urias (2-1, 2.50) TBA
Thursday, May 5 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP Zach Lee (3-1, 5.66) TBA
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 1, 2016
- Two Fireworks Shows Highlight Second Homestand - Albuquerque Isotopes
- O'Brien Belts Aces Past Isotopes in Extras - Reno Aces
- Aces Outduel Isotopes, Walk off in 12 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Grizzlies drop 4-3 matinee to El Paso in series finale - Fresno Grizzlies
- Chihuahuas Win 4-3 Sunday in Fresno - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Bees Split Series against Sacramento - Salt Lake Bees
- Parker Hits a Trio of Homers, River Cats Crush Bees Again - Sacramento River Cats
- Rainiers Avoid Sweep With 12-1 Win Over 51s - Tacoma Rainiers
- Sounds Shut out Express in Series Finale - Round Rock Express
- Sounds Shutout Express in Series Clinching Win - Nashville Sounds
- Sky Sox Win Game One, Game Two Postponed - Iowa Cubs
- Final Game of New Orleans Series Postponed - Memphis Redbirds
- Today's OKC Dodgers Game at Omaha Postponed - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
- Zephyrs Rained out Sunday - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Homers Lead Sky Sox over Cubs 4-3 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Sunday's Storm Chasers-Dodgers Contest Postponed - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Reno Aces Game Information: Albuquerque Isotopes (14-9) at Reno Aces (9-13) - Reno Aces
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - May 1, 2016 - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
- Isotopes Take Two over Reno in Doubleheader - Reno Aces
- Albuquerque Takes Game Two, Sweeps Doubleheader - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Grizzlies blank El Paso in front of huge Saturday crowd - Fresno Grizzlies
- 51s Take Third Straight From Rainiers, 7-4 - Tacoma Rainiers
- Fresno blanks El Paso - El Paso Chihuahuas
- River Cats' Offense Explodes on Bees, Snap Streak - Sacramento River Cats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
