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OKC Dodgers Game Notes - April 20, 2016

April 20, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release


Memphis Redbirds (5-6) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (7-5)

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game #13 of 144/Home #5 of 72 (2-2)

Pitching Probables: MEM-RHP Jeremy Hefner (1-0, 1.86) vs. OKC-RHP Sam LeCure (0-0, 0.00)

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7:05 p.m. CT

Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman

Today's Game: The Dodgers continue their series against the Memphis Redbirds at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark trying for a third straight win. Oklahoma City took a 1-0 lead in its series against the Redbirds with a win Tuesday, and also took a 3-2 edge in the season series between the teams.

Last Game: The Dodgers picked up their third shutout win of the season in a rain-shortened game Tuesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, defeating Memphis, 4-0. The game went into a rain delay after the final out of the fifth inning, and was called after a 55-minute delay. Dodgers starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (1-1) pitched five scoreless frames, allowing two hits, one walk and recording six strikeouts in his third career shutout. The Dodgers scored their first run of the night in the second inning when left fielder James Ramsey hit a fly ball to center field for a RBI triple. Jose Tabata knocked a RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, Austin Barnes tripled to right-center field, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Micah Johnson for a 3-0 Oklahoma City advantage. Rob Segedin followed with a two-out double to left field, then scored on a RBI single by Corey Brown for a 4-0 lead. Memphis starting pitcher J.C. Sulbaran (2-1) allowed four runs on seven hits, walked two and recorded five strikeouts in his first loss of the season.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Sam LeCure (0-0) returns to the mound for his third start of the season...During his last outing Thursday in Memphis, LeCure pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and recording three strikeouts in a no decision...LeCure has now pitched a total of 9.0 scoreless innings to start 2016. He ranks among the league's early leaders with a 0.00 ERA and 0.56 WHIP and he has yet to walk a batter...He made his team debut April 9 in Nashville as he paced the Dodgers' pitchers in a near no-hitter. He retired all 12 batters he faced on just 45 pitches. Relievers Ian Thomas and Adam Liberatore followed as the trio combined to retire 24 of 25 batters without surrendering a hit through eight innings. LeCure and Thomas retired the game's first 17 hitters. The Sounds broke up the no-hit bid in the bottom of the ninth inning, but OKC held on for a 2-1 win...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...The Reds selected his contract Aug. 19, 2015 and he made 19 relief appearances, going 0-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 20.0 IP with 15 Ks...His last start was his first career meeting with the Redbirds.

Against the Redbirds: 2016: 3-2 2015: 9-7 All-time: 154-140 In OKC: 88-56

The Dodgers and Redbirds split their first series of the season April 11-14 in Memphis. OKC won the first two games before the Redbirds responded with wins in the final two meetings...Corey Brown and Alex Hassan each had five hits. Lars Anderson and Rob Segedin each homered...Memphis first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez went 5-for-12 with a home run and four RBI...In 2015, the Dodgers went 4-4 in Bricktown against Memphis and went on to win the season series, 9-7. OKC won seven of the first eight meetings between the teams before losing six of the last eight games against the Redbirds...OKC has won the last three season series.

Donut Factory: Although it was rain-shortened, the Dodgers collected their third shutout of the season last night, becoming the second-fastest team to notch three shutouts since OKC joined the PCL in 1998. The 2015 team accomplished the feat through the first 11 games of the season, although that included two shutouts of less than nine innings.

Deja Vu All Over Again: On both April 19, 2016 and April 19, 2015, the Dodgers won 4-0 in rain-shortened games that were called in the sixth inning. In both instances, the OKC starting pitcher allowed two hits over five scoreless innings and was credited with a complete game shutout. Last season Joe Wieland went the distance during the Dodgers' victory over the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines...The time of game was nearly identical, with last night's contest clocking in at 1:38 and the 2015 edition lasting 1:39.

Breaking Out: The Dodgers have scored 10 runs over the last two games --- but have only batted 13 times --- exceeding their run total from the previous four games combined (8). Over the pair of victories they batted .316 (18x57) after hitting just .208 through the first 10 games of the season. The past two nights they collected seven extra-base hits, including a season-high four last night. In the first 10 games, they notched just 18 extra-base hits...OKC is now 5-0 when scoring at least four runs.

Barn(es) Burner: In his two first games with OKC this season, catcher Austin Barnes has had an immediate impact, going 3-for-7 with a RBI double, a triple, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Barnes was optioned by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. He made his first career ML Opening Day roster this season and went 2-for-15 over six games. Last season with OKC, Barnes led the team with a .315 batting average and .386 on-base percentage. He was selected as a PCL Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star, becoming the first OKC player to be named a Post-Season All-Star since Michael Kirkman in 2010.

Segedin's Surge: Rob Segedin is 5-for-7 with two doubles over his last two games and has hit safely in five straight games, going 9-for-20 (.450) with three multi-hit games during the stretch. Segedin has not struck out in either of the past two games after collecting at least two strikeouts in eight of his first nine starts.

Hicks Heating Up: After beginning the season 0-for-13 with 10 strikeouts, Brandon Hicks is 6-for-15 with a team-leading four doubles and only three strikeouts. He's reached base safely in 10 of his last 19 plate appearances (.526 OBP).

When it Counts: Jose Tabata picked up a RBI single last night and leads the team with seven RBI this season. Tabata is 7-for-36 (.194) overall, but is 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Kontakt Issues: The Dodgers offense leads the PCL with 123 strikeouts. Among all minor league team who have played a maximum of 12 games, only High-A Bakersfield (133) and Triple-A Charlotte (126) have struck out more. They have struck out at least 10 times in seven of the first 12 games of the season.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER

Thursday, April 21 7:05 p.m. Memphis RHP Jeremy Kehrt (1-0, 1.64) RHP Thomas Lee (0-1, 8.68)

Friday, April 22 7:05 p.m. Memphis LHP Julio Urias (1-1, 3.60) RHP Arturo Reyes (0-1, 1.80)

Saturday, April 23 7:08 p.m. at Iowa RHP Zach Lee (3-0, 1.56) TBA

Sunday, April 24 1:08 p.m. at Iowa RHP Jharel Cotton (1-1, 4.91) TBA

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