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OKC Dodgers Game Notes - May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release


Iowa Cubs (23-26) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (26-23)

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game #50 of 144/Home #20 of 73 (9-10)

Pitching Probables: IOW-RHP Alex Sanabia (0-1, 11.91) vs. OKC-RHP Zach Lee (6-2, 4.58)

Tuesday, May 31, 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 Oklahoma City Dodgers return home from an eight-game West Coast road trip to open a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Last Game: The Dodgers overcame a late three-run deficit, but Mitch Delfino provided the game-winning hit for Sacramento in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 4-3 win over the Dodgers Monday afternoon at Raley Field. Tied up 3-3, Dodgers reliever Jacob Rhame (0-3) retired the first two batters of the ninth inning before Gorkys Hernandez doubled to left field. After an intentional walk to Ramiro Pena, Delfino sent a sharp grounder down the right field line to score Hernandez. Through the first seven innings, the Dodgers were held scoreless and collected just three hits, with only two runners reaching scoring position. Sacramento starting pitcher Clayton Blackburn was cruising, scattering three singles with no walks and eight strikeouts. OKC caught a couple of breaks in the eighth inning to tie the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Steven Okert (3-1) uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Antoan Richardson and moving the tying runs into scoring position. With two outs, Rob Segedin sent a ground ball toward the middle. Sacramento second baseman Juan Ciriaco fielded the ball, but his throw to first base went over Ryan Lollis' head, and both runs scored on the error. The game was scoreless until the River Cats reeled off three runs in the fourth inning, taking the lead on a RBI single by Lollis. Darren Ford hit a RBI ground rule double and Ciriaco followed with a bunt RBI single on a squeeze play to extend the lead to 3-0.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Zach Lee (6-2) aims to become the first Triple-A pitcher this season to notch seven wins...Lee suffered his second loss of the season Thursday in Fresno. He allowed one run through four innings before the Grizzlies broke through with three runs in the fifth and another run in the sixth inning. Lee allowed five total runs and seven hits over six innings. He walked two and had a season-high eight strikeouts in OKC's 5-4 loss...Lee is currently tied with Las Vegas' Gabriel Ynoa for the PCL lead in wins...In five of his nine starts, Lee has allowed two or fewer runs. Subtracting his rough outing April 28 at Omaha, Lee has posted a 3.08 ERA over his eight other starts this season...So far this season, Lee has notched 43 strikeouts against 10 walks (4.3 K/BB)...Lee was named the Dodgers' 2015 Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the second time in his career (also in 2013). He paced OKC's rotation with 11 wins in 2015, going 11-6 with a 2.70 ERA over 19 starts...Lee is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA over four career starts against Iowa. In his previous meeting with the I-Cubs on Sept. 3, 2015, Lee held the I-Cubs to two runs and seven hits over seven innings and earned the win.

Against the I-Cubs: 2016: 3-1 2015: 12-4 All-time: 127-130 At OKC: 68-58

Going back to last season, the Dodgers have won seven of their last eight meetings against Iowa and have also won six of the last eight games between the teams in OKC, including the last four in a row...The Dodgers won the first series of the 2016 season between the teams, 3-1, in Des Moines, April 23-26. Rob Segedin hit .400 in the series with a team-leading eight hits, two home runs, six RBI and nine runs scored...The Dodgers won the 2015 series between the teams, 12-4, including a 6-2 record at home. The Dodgers outscored the I-Cubs, 75-48, but the Dodgers hit just .216. Nine of the 16 meetings between the teams were decided by one or two runs, including a 6-4 Dodgers win during the teams' epic 19-inning showdown in game one of a doubleheader on Sept. 1 in OKC.

Close on the Coast: The Dodgers finished their West Coast road trip with a 2-6 record, but four losses were by one run and three losses came in walk-off fashion. The Dodgers were 6-4 in one-run games prior to the trip, but the team's record now stands at 6-8 in one-run games...It's the first time OKC has gone 2-6 during an eight-game road triple since Aug. 8-15, 2013 (Las Vegas and Tucson).

100 Percent Cotton: Yesterday Jharel Cotton was named PCL Pitcher of the Week for May 23-29. During his two starts, Cotton went 1-0 and allowed just two runs and four hits over 10 innings while notching 15 strikeouts. Cotton is the first Dodgers pitcher nab the honor since Scott Baker did so for the week of June 22-28, 2015.

On the Mend: Pitcher Frankie Montas allowed two hits with two strikeouts in a scoreless sixth inning as he made his first appearance with OKC Monday while he continues his rehab assignment. Montas is recovering from rib resection surgery and began his rehab assignment with Double-A Tulsa. In four total appearances with OKC and Tulsa, Montas allowed one run and four hits with nine strikeouts over 5.2 IP...Scott Van Slyke did not play yesterday, but he is expected to be back in the starting lineup tonight. In five games with OKC, Van Slyke is 4-for-22 with a homer and three RBI.

Barnes Burner: Austin Barnes went 2-for-4 with a run scored Monday and has now hit safely in four straight games, going 6-for-15 during the stretch. He also recorded a stolen base Monday and is tied with Micah Johnson for the team lead with 11 swipes this season.

Rico Suave: Rico Noel hit safely in a season-high five straight games. During the five-game stretch he is 6-for-17 with four extra-base hits. The hitting streak is his longest since last hitting safely in five straight games Aug. 21-25, 2014 with El Paso.

RISPy Business: The Dodgers went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position yesterday and finished the four-game series in Sacramento 3-for-29 (.103) with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers have been held to one or no hits with runners in scoring position in six straight games, going 5-for-36 (.139) during that time.

Special K: The Dodgers pitching staff tied the team's season low with just three strikeouts yesterday, previously set April 21 against Memphis. Oklahoma City currently ranks third in the league with 433 strikeouts. Nashville paces the league with 447 strikeouts, but has played two more games than the Dodgers. Fresno sits in second place with 436 strikeouts, but has played one more game than OKC.

Short Hops: Zach Walters has hit safely in four straight games, going 4-for-11 with four RBI. He's batting .286 in May after hitting just .170 in April...Yesterday the Dodgers were held without an extra-base hit for the fifth time this season...Each of the last three games has been completed in exactly 2 hours, 45 minutes...The OKC Dodgers would like to wish a belated happy birthday to head groundskeeper Monte McCoy, affectionately known as "The Sodfather."

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER

Wednesday, June 1 7:05 p.m. Iowa TBA RHP Drew Rucinski (3-4, 5.93)

Thursday, June 2 7:05 p.m. Iowa LHP Julio Urias (4-1, 1.10) TBA

Friday, June 3 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Jharel Cotton (4-3, 5.45) LHP Rob Zastryzny (1-0, 3.75)

Saturday, June 4 6:05 p.m. at Round Rock TBA TBA

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