PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Iowa Blitzes Dodgers Early, Wins 8-3

August 28, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Des Moines, Iowa - The Iowa Cubs delivered an early blow with five runs in the first inning, and the Oklahoma City Dodgers never recovered in an 8-3 loss Tuesday night at Principal Park.

With the Dodgers' loss and a win by Colorado Springs, the Dodgers fell a half-game out of first place in the American Northern Division with eight games remaining in the regular season.

The I-Cubs raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, as each of the first three batters reached base. Following a single and a walk, Mike Freeman opened the scoring with a RBI single. After a another walk loaded the bases, Jason Vosler hit a high-arcing grand slam that landed a few feet over the right field fence to complete the opening-inning explosion. It also marked the league-leading eighth grand slam surrendered by the Dodgers this season.

Iowa (48-85) added to the lead with a bloop RBI single by rehabbing Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant in the fourth inning.

After being held to no runs and one hit through five innings by Iowa starting pitcher Luke Farrell, the Dodgers broke a streak of 13 straight scoreless innings. Leading off the sixth inning, Alex Verdugo launched his 10th home run of the season out to right field.

The I-Cubs plated two runs in the seventh inning to take their largest lead of the night. Taylor Davis hit a RBI single, and Chris Coghlan added a RBI double to make it 7-1.

The Dodgers (70-62) scored their final two runs in the eighth inning with a RBI double by Kyle Garlick and a RBI single by Tyler Pill.

Between a pair of victories Saturday and Sunday against Colorado Springs to take a 1.5-game lead in first place, the OKC pitching staff allowed a total of three runs and 12 hits. But over a pair of losses the last two nights, the pitching staff has struggled, allowing 15 runs and 27 hits.

The offense continued to lag as well, notching six hits. It's the 15th straight game the Dodgers have finished with nine or fewer hits. The team managed just three at-bats with runners in scoring position and struck out 12 times.

Farrell (1-4) earned his first win with Iowa, allowing just one bloop single during his start. The Dodgers only had one runner reach as far as second base against Farrell, who retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced. He set a new season high with seven strikeouts and allowed three walks.

Coming off his best start with OKC, starting pitcher Logan Bawcom was done in by the fateful first inning. He was able to get through five frames and ended up allowing six runs and seven hits. Although Bawcom (2-4) set a career high with nine strikeouts, he also tied a career high with five walks.

The Dodgers look to rebound when they play a doubleheader against the I-Cubs consisting of two seven-inning games Wednesday starting at 4:38 p.m. at Principal Park. 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 28, 2018


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