PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - April 23, 2015

Published on April 23, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City Dodgers (11-3) vs. Nashville Sounds (7-7)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland A's

Game #15 of 144/Road #7 of 72 (5-1)

Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP David Huff (0-0, 3.00) vs. NAS-LHP Brad Mills (0-2, 7.27)

Thursday, April 23, 2015 | First Tennessee Park | Nashville, Tenn. | 7:05 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The OKC Dodgers look for a third straight win as they continue their first road trip of the season at 7:05 p.m. against Nashville at First Tennessee Park. The Dodgers are 5-1 on the road trip so far, and have the team's best-ever start through 14 games since joining the PCL in 1998 at 11-3 overall. They are the only team in the PCL currently with 10 or more wins.

Yesterday's Game: Oklahoma City scored four early runs and received a strong start from pitcher Zach Lee in a 5-2 win over Nashville Wednesday night at First Tennessee Park. In the first inning, Buck Britton roped a RBI triple, and Kyle Jensen followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. The Dodgers scored twice in the third inning on a RBI double by Darwin Barney and RBI single by Britton. Nashville got on the board in the fifth with a RBI single by Andy Parrino, which snapped a streak of 15 consecutive scoreless innings by Lee. It was the only blemish during Lee's outing, as he tossed a season-high seven innings. He gave up six hits with two walks and five strikeouts as he improved to 3-0. Scott Schebler added to the Dodgers' lead in the eighth with a solo home run. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jason Pridie's homer cut the lead to 5-2. The next two batters reached base, bringing the tying run to the plate. The Dodgers brought in closer David Aardsma, who retired the next two batters to earn his fourth save. Making a spot start for Nashville after being promoted from Double-A, Nate Long (0-1) allowed four runs and seven hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Today's Probable Pitcher: David Huff makes the start tonight in place of Mike Bolsinger, who was recalled to Los Angeles and will start for the Dodgers this afternoon in San Francisco...Huff opened the season with OKC and made one appearance on Opening Night against Round Rock, allowing one run over three innings of relief. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected his contract on April 14 and he made a spot start that night against Seattle, allowing four runs and seven hits, including two homers, in a no decision. He issued one walk and struck out two over 4.0 IP...Huff was designated for assignment on April 15, and after clearing waivers and accepting his minor league assignment, he rejoined Oklahoma City on April 21...The lefty is in his first season with the Dodgers organization after signing as a free agent on January 9...Last season Huff went 4-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 46 relief appearances with the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. He entered the 2015 season with a 25-28 record and 5.02 ERA in 115 career games (54 starts) with the Indians (2009-13), Yankees (2013-14), and Giants (2014) in six MLB seasons...In his previous nine minor league seasons, he is 48-27 with a 3.76 ERA in 127 games (116 starts). Since 2012, Huff has primarily been a reliever, going 8-1 with a 3.34 ERA in 61 ML relief appearances.

Against the Sounds: 2015: 5-1 2014: 6-10 All-time: 149-129 In NAS: 70-69

Oklahoma City won the first series of the season between the teams, 3-1, April 13-16 in Bricktown, marking their first series win against the Sounds since taking three of five in Nashville June 27-30, 2013. Buck Britton led the way with five hits and four RBI. Three games were decided by one run and two games extended into the 10th inning...Over the first six meetings between the teams, the OKC pitching staff has 65 strikeouts (56.0 IP) and has held Nashville 10-for-63 with runners in scoring position (.159)...Oklahoma City finished 6-10 against the Sounds last season after compiling a 24-8 record against Nashville in 2012 and 2013 combined...Like OKC, Nashville's parent club changed during the offseason, switching from the Milwaukee Brewers (2005-2014) to the Oakland A's.

Winning Ways: With an 11-3 record, the Dodgers are off to the team's best start through 14 games since joining the PCL in 1998. They are just one of three teams in the Minors to record 11 victories so far, along with High-A Visalia and Low-A Quad Cities...Oklahoma City is seeking to notch a winning record in April for the fourth consecutive season.

Whiff City: The OKC Dodgers pitching staff ranks fourth in the Minors with 142 strikeouts, although it is the highest total among all Double-A and Triple-A teams. The team's 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings are second overall in the Minors, just edged by the High-A Visalia Rawhide at 10.6...Through 14 games, the pitching staff has struck out at least 10 batters nine times. Two of the games in which they failed to record 10 strikeouts were shorter than nine innings...Yesterday marked the first time the Dodgers struck out fewer than eight batters in a nine-inning game (7).

In the Zone: OKC's pitching staff has allowed the fewest walks in the PCL and all of Triple-A (31). The staff currently has a 4.6/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which is tops in the Minors. The next closest team in the PCL is Sacramento with a 3.5/1 ratio.

Start Me Up: Excluding spot starts by Freddy Garcia and Rudy Owens, regular members of the starting rotation are 10-1 with a 1.31 ERA (10 ER/68.2 IP) through 12 games. They've held opponents to a .185 average (45x243) and struck out 77 batters with only nine walks (8.6 K/BB). In seven of the 12 games, the starting pitcher has allowed three or fewer hits.

RISPy Business: Over the first six games of the current road trip, the OKC pitching staff has held opponents just 3-for-40 with runners in scoring position. Overall this season, opponents are batting just .160 with runners in scoring position, best in the PCL.

Great Scott: Scott Schebler has homered in three straight games, marking the second time in his career he's done that. He also did it last season while playing for Double-A Chattanooga, May 30-June 1. Schebler has accounted for each of the team's last three dingers.

Buck Wild: Buck Britton finished Wednesday's game 3-for-5 to collect this third three-hit game of the season. The rest of the team has combined for just two three-hit games. Britton leads the team with 17 hits and 11 RBI this season. His .396 average ranks seventh in the league and his .472 on-base percentage ranks sixth.

Speedy Sweeney: Darnell Sweeney is riding a season-best four game hitting streak, going 6-for-16. During the current road trip, Sweeney is batting .391 (9x23) with a RBI, four walks, four steals, and three multi-hit games. He leads the league with eight steals and is over halfway to his stolen base total from last season with Double-A Chattanooga (15).

Closing Time: Last night David Aardsma recorded his league-leading fourth save of the season. He has not allowed a runner to reach base in four of his first six appearances.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER

Friday, April 24 7:05 p.m. @ Nashville RHP Joe Wieland (2-0, 1.80) RHP Chris Bassitt (1-1, 3.38)

Saturday, April 25 7:05 p.m. Omaha RHP Scott Baker (1-1, 1.06) RHP Aaron Brooks (0-2, 4.70)

Sunday, April 26 2:05 p.m. Omaha RHP Carlos Frias (2-0, 2.84) RHP Joe Blanton (2-1, 3.24)

Monday, April 27 7:05 p.m. Omaha RHP Zach Lee (3-0, 0.95) RHP Christian Binford (0-2, 4.70)

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