PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Dodgers Play Power Ball, Snap Skid

Published on May 29, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


West Sacramento, Calif. - The Oklahoma City Dodgers went deep three times and received a strong performance from the pitching staff to beat the Sacramento River Cats, 5-1, Saturday night at Raley Field.

With the win, the Dodgers (25-22) snapped a six-game losing streak - the team's longest losing skid since August 2012. The Dodgers led for eight innings Saturday night after leading for seven innings total during the losing streak.

The Dodgers homered a season-high three times, with Zach Walters, Scott Van Slyke, and Rob Segedin all leaving the yard. OKC has now homered in three straight games for just the second time this season, and the team has hit five homers during that span.

Walters put the Dodgers on the board with a two-run homer in the second inning. Following an infield single by Micah Johnson, Walters lifted a deep fly ball out to right field for his third home run of the season, giving OKC a 2-0 lead.

The power surge continued in the third inning. Van Slyke lined a deep drive over the left field fence for his first homer of his rehab assignment, stretching the lead to 3-0.

Van Slyke drove in another run in his next at-bat in the fifth inning. His two-out RBI single to center field scored Rico Noel, making it 4-0.

Leading off the sixth inning, Segedin swatted the Dodgers' third home run of the night. It was Segedin's eighth homer run of the season, already surpassing his 2015 season total of seven. Segedin finished 3-for-4 with a home run and double, marking his sixth game of the season with at least three hits.

Meanwhile on the mound, the Dodgers held the River Cats (21-29) scoreless through the first seven innings with just four singles. Ross Stripling started his first career Triple-A game in a predetermined three-inning outing. He allowed three hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Stripling threw 36 pitches, with 24 strikes.

The pitching star of the night was reliever Lisalverto Bonilla, who followed Stripling with four scoreless innings. After allowing a single to the first batter he faced, Bonilla (1-0) proceeded to retire the next 12 batters in order, with five via strikeout. At one point, Stripling and Bonilla combined 17 of 18 Sacramento batters.

Once Bonilla exited the game, the River Cats got their offense going in the eighth inning. Three of the first four batters of the inning collected singles to load the bases with one out against Jordan Schafer. Jacob Rhame entered the game to face Darren Ford, who hit into a force out at second base, allowing a run to score. Rhame then struck out Mitch Delfino to end the threat.

Grant Dayton retired the side in order in the ninth inning to wrap up the win. The OKC pitching staff combined to allow no extra-base hits and no walks while striking out 11 batters.

After Sacramento's scheduled starting pitcher Chris Stratton was recalled to the San Francisco Giants, Matt Lujan was thrusted into the starting spot on three days' rest. Lujan (0-4) allowed three runs and five hits over four innings in the loss. The lefty tied his season high with five strikeouts and did not allow a walk.

The Dodgers next meet the River Cats Sunday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. Central time. Live coverage begins 15 minutes before the 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 May 29, 2016


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