PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Dodgers Lead Wire-to-Wire in 6-3 Win

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


Tacoma, Wash. - For the second consecutive night, the Oklahoma City Dodgers scored in the first inning and led from start to finish, defeating the Tacoma Rainiers, 6-3, Thursday night at Cheney Stadium.

Just like the night before, the Dodgers (60-47) scored in the first inning. Tim Locastro was hit by a pitch leading off the game, and Henry Ramos followed with a RBI double. Ramos later scored on a RBI single up the middle by Alex Verdugo to make it 2-0.

The Dodgers almost scored two more runs in the first inning. Kyle Farmer sent a fly ball to deep left field, but John Andreoli made a home run-saving catch at the wall. Verdugo was doubled off at first base on the play to end the inning.

Angelo Mora added to the lead in the second inning with a two-out RBI single, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 edge.

The Rainiers (53-56) got on the board for the first time in the series in the bottom of the third inning. A throwing error by Farmer put two runners on with none out, and the Rainiers took advantage later in the inning with a two-out RBI single by Andreoli to make it 3-1.

The run also snapped a streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings by the OKC pitching staff.

In the fourth, the Rainiers had the bases empty with two outs, but strung together three straight hits to score another run.

The Dodgers responded and put up three runs in the fifth inning, despite collecting only one hit. Connor Joe drew a leadoff walk. Mora stepped up next and smacked an opposite field home run to left field, pushing the lead to 5-2.

Mora tallied three of the team's seven hits and finished with a game-high three RBI.

Later in the inning, Locastro walked and stole second base. After advancing to third base with one out, Locastro scored on a fielding error by Tacoma third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean.

On the first pitch of the bottom of the inning, Ben Gamel hit a home run, pulling Tacoma within 6-3.

The Rainiers threatened to narrow the gap in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. The Dodgers escaped the jam, as Manny Bañuelos got Daniel Vogelbach to pop out, and Josh Sborz struck out Cameron Rupp to keep the lead at three runs.

Tacoma didn't bring the tying run to the plate over the final two innings. Joe Broussard notched two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his eighth save.

Dodgers starting pitcher Zach Neal completed six solid innings to pick up the win. Neal (3-2) allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits, with no walks and one strikeout.

Tacoma starting pitcher Rob Whalen took the loss, after the Dodgers got to him for six runs (five earned) over five innings. Whalen (7-5) gave up four hits, including his first home run at Cheney Stadium this season, with three walks and five strikeouts.

The Dodgers will aim for a three-game sweep of the Rainiers at 9:05 p.m. CT Friday at Cheney Stadium. Live radio coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 3, 2018


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