PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Dodgers Escape Memphis with 1-0 Win

Published on May 3, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Memphis, Tenn. - The Oklahoma City Dodgers broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, then escaped a ninth-inning jam to hang on and beat the Memphis Redbirds, 1-0, Thursday night in the series finale between the teams at AutoZone Park.

Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, reliever Brian Schlitter entered the game to pitch for Oklahoma City.

Memphis' Yairo Munoz led off with an infield single for the Redbirds. Patrick Wisdom followed and knocked a sharply hit grounder through the legs of Dodgers second baseman Jake Peter, who was charged with a fielding error. Munoz advanced to third base on the play putting runners at first and third base with no outs.

Schlitter then got Steven Baron to line out to OKC first baseman Wes Darvill, who stepped on the bag to double Wisdom off first base for an unassisted double play.

Randy Arozarena drew a walk to once again put the winning run on first base with two outs, but Schlitter got Wilfredo Tovar to swing with a full count for a game-ending strikeout.

Schillter earned his sixth save of the season as the Dodgers bounced back from back-to-back losses to leave Memphis with a split in the four-game series.

Oklahoma City improved to 19-6 overall, tying the 19-9 Redbirds for the most wins in the PCL, as the Dodgers pitched their second shutout of the season - and series. The Dodgers are now tied for their most wins through 25 games since rejoining the league in 1998, matching the 2015 Dodgers' 19-6 record to start the season.

The Redbirds had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the second inning Thursday, loading the bases with no outs. But Tovar lined into a double play and Dodgers starting pitcher Guillermo Moscoso got Dakota Hudson to strike out to escape the early jam.

The Dodgers' offense broke through the scoreless tie in the eighth inning.

Wes Darvill reached base on an error and Rocky Gale singled before a sacrifice bunt by Logan Landon advanced the runners to second and third base. Angelo Mora then hit a weak grounder toward first base and Darvill and beat a throw to the plate to put the Dodgers in front, 1-0, on the fielder's choice.

Peter followed and hit into a fielder's choice toward Memphis starting pitcher Dakota Hudson. Gale tried to extend the Dodgers' lead on the play, but was thrown out at home to keep OKC's lead at one run.

Moscoso pitched six shutout innings for the Dodgers in his seventh career start against the Redbirds. He allowed six hits, one walk and recorded five strikeouts, but exited the game in a scoreless tie.

Pat Venditte (2-0) followed on the mound for OKC and picked up the win with two scoreless innings. He now has seven straight scoreless relief appearances, totaling 10.1 innings.

Memphis starting pitcher Hudson (3-1) held the Dodgers to one run and five hits over 8.0 innings, but was charged with the loss. He allowed one walk and had four strikeouts.

Memphis outhit the Dodgers, 8-5, as Oklahoma City was held without an extra-base hit for the first time this season. Oklahoma City's offense was also held to less than two runs for just the second time this season.

The Dodgers return home Friday to begin an eight-game homestand and look to add to their best-ever home start since Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark opened in 1998. The Dodgers are 12-0 in Bricktown and are the lone team in professional baseball still undefeated at home this season.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday and the first 2,000 fans to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox will receive an OKC Dodgers hat as part of the team's first giveaway night of the season. Fireworks, presented by TerraScapes, are scheduled to follow the game.

Live coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.

Tickets are available through the OKC Dodgers ticket office located on South Mickey Mantle Drive, by phone at (405) 218-2182, or by visiting okcdodgers.com.

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 3, 2018


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.

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