Dodgers Narrow Express, 4-2
July 27, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Round Rock, Texas - The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored four runs in the sixth inning and leaned on their pitching staff to work out of jams all night, defeating the Round Rock Express, 4-2, Sunday at Dell Diamond.
The Dodgers (62-38) have taken two of the first three games in Round Rock and improved to 11-4 this season against the Express. Playing their 100th game of the season, the Dodgers collected their 62nd win, besting OKC's previous top record through 100 contests by four games.
After being held to no runs and three hits through five innings, the Dodgers rallied for four runs in the sixth. The first run scored on an errant pickoff throw to third base by Round Rock catcher Brett Nicholas. Corey Seager then tied the game with a RBI groundout.
With two on and two out, O'Koyea Dickson smashed the first pitch from Round Rock reliever Luke Jackson to deep left field for a go-ahead, two-run double.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Express (57-43) drew back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. Juan Gonzalez replaced Danny Coulombe on the mound and got Tyler Pastornicky to fly out to shallow right field on the first pitch to end the inning.
Gonzalez breezed through the eighth inning and stayed in the game to pitch the ninth. He struck out Joey Gallo on a called third strike with a breaking ball on the outside corner for the first out. After falling behind Ed Lucas, 3-0, Gonzalez threw two straight strikes and got Lucas on ground out on a 3-2 pitch.
Nicholas came up next and singled on a 0-2 pitch to keep the game alive, and Tommy Field followed with a walk. Gonzalez then struck out Michael Choice on a 3-2 pitch to end the game and earn his fifth save of the season.
Although Round Rock had several chances to score throughout the night, the Dodgers pitching staff held the Express 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 14 runners on base.
On the first pitch of the bottom of the third inning, Ryan Strausborger homered to left field to give Round Rock a 1-0 lead.
Strausborger drove in another run in the fourth inning with a sac fly. Through the first three games of the series, Strausborger is 5-for-11 four extra-base hits and four RBI, and he has homered in each of the past two games.
The Express threatened to extend the lead later in the fourth inning after loading the bases with two outs, but OKC pitcher Joe Wieland got Lucas to ground out and keep it a two-run game.
Wieland (6-4) was allowed to pitch into the sixth inning for the first time this season and tossed a season-high 5.2 innings, earning his first win since June 13. He allowed two runs and seven hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.
Round Rock starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez cruised through five innings, scattering three singles and having just one runner reach scoring position. But Gonzalez (4-7) ran into trouble in the sixth and ended up being charged with all four runs. He finished with two walks and two strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
The Dodgers have a chance to win their series in Round Rock at 7:05 p.m. Monday night when they meet the Express for the final time this season. Live coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game", 1340thegame.com, or through the iHeartRadio mobile app.
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- Dodgers Narrow Express, 4-2 - Oklahoma City Comets
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