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PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - April 19, 2018

April 19, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City Dodgers (10-2) vs. Round Rock Express (4-10)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Texas Rangers

Game #13 of 140/Road #6 of 70 (3-2)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Justin De Fratus (NR, -.--) vs. RR-RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0-1, 7.71)

Thursday, April 19, 2018 | Dell Diamond | Round Rock, Texas | 7:05 p.m. CT

Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman

Today's Game: The Oklahoma City Dodgers look to rebound after just their second loss of the season when they continue their road series against the Round Rock Express at 7:05 p.m. at Dell Diamond. Wednesday afternoon's loss ended Oklahoma City's nine-game winning streak, but the 10-2 Dodgers are still enjoying their best start to a season through 12 games since Oklahoma City rejoined the PCL in 1998.

Last Game: The Round Rock Express overcame a four-run deficit and defeated OKC, 9-6, in 10 innings on a walk-off grand slam by Cameron Rupp Wednesday afternoon at Dell Diamond. The Dodgers led, 4-0, after five innings. The Express cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Both teams scored a run in the seventh, including a RBI double by Alex Verdugo. The Dodgers still led, 5-3, in the ninth inning when the Express rallied with two outs, getting key hits from the bottom two hitters in the lineup. Andy Ibanez hit a RBI double to right-center field and Christian Lopes followed with a game-tying RBI single to even the score, as both players were down to their team's final strike. OKC's Henry Ramos was the designated runner at second base to start the 10th inning, and after each of the first two batters were retired, Angelo Mora came through with a RBI single down in the count 0-2 to put the Dodgers ahead, 6-5, before Rupp's grand slam in the bottom of the frame. OKC starting pitcher Brock Stewart ultimately had to settle for a no decision despite his solid outing (5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K). Round Rock reliever Deolis Guerra (1-0) picked up the win and Leo Crawford (0-1) took the loss in his Triple-A debut.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Justin De Fratus joins the OKC Dodgers to make tonight's start in his team debut...De Fratus started the season with Double-A Tulsa where he went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 11.1 innings. He allowed two unearned runs, seven hits, three walks and had nine strikeouts while holding opponents to a .171 batting average. As a result, he was named the first Texas League Pitcher of the Week of the season...He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent Feb. 17, 2018...De Fratus started the 2017 season in the independent Atlantic League before signing with Seattle May 11 and spending the rest of the season with Double-A Arkansas...With Arkansas, he made 17 appearances (16 starts), going 5-7 with a 4.85 ERA over 98.1 innings with 53 strikeouts against 14 walks...De Fratus made his MLB debut Sept. 18, 2011 with Philadelphia and has appeared in 191 MLB games, all with the Phillies...He was originally drafted by the Phillies in the 11th round of the 2007 MLB Draft from Ventura (Calif.) College...Tonight is his second career appearance and first start against the Express. His only other meeting was May 26, 2016 when he pitched two-thirds of an inning while with Tacoma. De Fratus was traded to the Rangers soon after that relief appearance and pitched in 10 games for the Express in 2016.

Against the Express: 2018: 4-1 2017: 9-6 All-time: 118-93 At RR: 60-45

The Dodgers swept Round Rock, 3-0, at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark April 10-12 to open the home portion of their schedule. The Dodgers outscored the Express, 30-9, and outhit Round Rock, 38-18. The Dodgers batted .358, while holding the Express to a .188 average...Andrew Toles paced OKC with six hits and five RBI in the three-game set. Tim Locastro and Breyvic Valera each scored five runs for the Dodgers...OKC went 20-for-39 (.513) with runners in scoring position...The Dodgers won the 2017 head-to-head series, 9-6, and have won three straight season series against Round Rock...The Dodgers went 4-4 at Dell Diamond last year, but the Express won the last three meetings in September 2017, handing OKC its first series loss in Round Rock since June 25-28, 2011.

It Was a Good Run: The Dodgers' nine-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday, marking the team's longest since a franchise-best 12-game win streak July 26-Aug. 6, 2013. It was the team's fifth winning streak of at least nine games since rejoining the PCL in 1998...The Dodgers are now 10-2, and both of their losses this season have come on the road in extra innings.

Teach Me How to Dougie: Alex Verdugo went 2-for-4 with two RBI Wednesday, marking his fifth straight game driving in at least one run. During the five-game stretch, Verdugo is 9-for-18 with three homers, two doubles and nine RBI...Verdugo has hit safely in 11 of his first 12 games of 2018, picking up 17 hits and 11 RBI. His 17 hits and three home runs are both tied with Henry Ramos for the team lead...Nine of his 11 RBI have either tied the game or given the Dodgers the lead, with seven of those RBI coming in the eighth inning or later.

Extra Credit: The Dodgers have played in five extra-inning games, while no other team across the Minors has played in more than three extra-inning games. The Dodgers have been involved in half of the extra innings games played in the PCL this season, including three times in the last four games...Both of OKC's losses this season have come in extra-inning games...Under the new extra innings rules, the Dodgers have gone 10-for-20 as a unit and scored 12 runs after totaling eight runs over their 11 games in extras last season. Of the 40 total runs the Dodgers have allowed this season, 12 have been in six extra innings (24 percent).

Offensive Line: Yesterday the Dodgers scored at least six runs for the fourth straight game and for the eighth time in the last 10 games...The Dodgers outhit the Express, 11-8, Wednesday marking the seventh time in the last 11 games the Dodgers have finished a game with at least 10 hits...The Dodgers' .321 batting average this season leads all teams in the Minors or Majors...The team is also batting a league-best .360 with runners in scoring position.

Timmay!!: Tim Locastro scored two more runs Wednesday, giving him four straight games with two runs scored. He's also crossed the plate multiple times in six of his last eight games, and his 15 runs total are tied for the PCL lead...Locastro is now batting .385 (15x39) and leads the team with six multi-hit games...In 42 career games with OKC, Locastro has slashed .387/.450/.549 with 17 multi-hit games and 14 stolen bases. He's notched two or more hits in 15 of his last 28 games with OKC going back to last season.

Around the Horn: Henry Ramos' offensive tear paused Wednesday as he went 0-for-5 after going 13-for-23 (.565) with 14 RBI, two doubles, a triple and three homers, including two grand slams, over his five previous games...Donovan Solano did not play yesterday, but enters today on a six-game hitting streak. After starting the season 2-for-12, Solano is 14-for-26 with four RBI and five runs scored in his last six outings...The Dodgers' recent bullpen struggles continued yesterday, allowing seven runs, five hits and four walks over 3.2 innings. Over the last four games, the relief corps has surrendered 19 runs (12 ER), 21 hits and 14 walks over 17.0 IP while being charged with four blown saves.

#WeRemember: Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Dodgers honor the 168 lives lost that day and always strive to live up to the Oklahoma Standard through service, honor and kindness.

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