PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - April 25, 2017

Published on April 25, 2017 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Memphis Redbirds (10-9) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (9-9) St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Game #20 of 142/Home #13 of 71 (4-7) Pitching Probables: MEM-RHP Mike Mayers (1-2, 7.36) vs. OKC-RHP Jair Jurrjens (1-0, 3.78)

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 11:05 a.m. CT Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman

Today's Game: The OKC Dodgers and Memphis Redbirds conclude their four-game series, and the Dodgers wrap up an eight-game homestand, at 11:05 a.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Redbirds lead the series, 2-1, and the Dodgers seek back-to-back home wins for the second time this season. Today is a Field Trip Day game.

Last Game: Justin Masterson pitched seven shutout innings and Steve Geltz followed with two more scoreless frames as the Dodgers held Memphis to two hits in a 3-0 shutout win Monday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Masterson (2-1) held the Redbirds to one hit and one walk as he notched five strikeouts to earn the win. Geltz picked up his first save of the season, holding Memphis to one hit over the eighth and ninth innings. Memphis collected one hit in the first inning and the other hit with two outs in the ninth inning. In between, Masterson and Geltz combined to retire 23 of 25 batters, with one walk and an error committed by OKC. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when Bobby Wilson led off for OKC and drilled a home run down the left-field line, over the LED board and out of the ballpark to give the Dodgers a 1-0 edge. The Dodgers added a run later in the inning on a RBI single by Cody Bellinger. They went up 3-0 in the sixth inning. Alex Verdugo led off with a single before stealing second base and advancing to third base on an error. Verdugo then scored on a sacrifice fly by Ike Davis. Memphis starting pitcher Chris Ellis (0-3) was hit with the loss.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Jair Jurrjens (1-0) makes his fourth start of the season...He has a 3.78 ERA, allowing seven runs and 12 hits over 16.2 innings with five walks and 11 strikeouts...He enters today ranked sixth in the PCL with a .197 opponent batting average and seventh in the league with a 1.02 WHIP...Jurrjens battled his command in his previous start April 19 against Nashville, when he allowed season highs in runs (five) and allowed all five of the walks he has issued this season, marking his highest single-game walk total since 2013. He lasted 4.2 innings and gave up four hits with three strikeouts in a no decision...Jurrjens signed with the Dodgers as a free agent March 29...He appeared in three games (two starts) in the 2017 World Baseball Classic for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, going 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA with nine K's and four walks in 11.1 innings...Jurrjens spent 2016 with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, making 16 starts and posting a 6-7 record and 5.38 ERA...In eight MLB seasons with Detroit (2007), Atlanta (2008-12), Baltimore (2013) and Colorado (2014), Jurrjens posted a 53-38 record with a 3.72 ERA, 514 K's and 264 walks in 130 games...He was selected as a 2011 NL All-Star and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2008...He was originally signed by Detroit as an amateur free agent in 2003 and is the first pitcher from Curacao to reach the Majors...Jurrjens pitched against Memphis in 2015 with Albuquerque and in 2014 with Colorado Springs and has a career 0-1 record with a 2.00 ERA over two appearances (one start).

Against the Redbirds: 2017: 3-3 2016: 9-6 All-time: 163-147 At OKC: 92-61 The Dodgers and Redbirds meet for their second series of the season...OKC won the first series in Memphis, 2-1. The Dodgers outscored Memphis, 14-10, in the three-game set and Cody Bellinger went 5-for-12 (.417) with one double, one home run, five RBI and four runs scored...

The Dodgers won the 2016 series, going 4-3 in Bricktown and 5-3 in Memphis...The Dodgers have won four straight season series against the Redbirds and have not lost a season series to Memphis since 2011...In 2016, O'Koyea Dickson went 10-for-20 over six games, with two home runs, seven RBI and seven runs, but the Redbirds have quieted him into going 2-for-19 so far this season. Efficiency Efficacy: Justin Masteron (81) and Steve Geltz (21) combined to throw just 102 pitches to complete the two-hit shutout last night. The highest amount of pitches thrown in one inning was 15 in both the sixth and seventh, and they completed an inning with 10 or fewer pitches four times. There was just one three-ball count all night --- when Tommy Pham drew a walk in the seevnth inning...Memphis' two hits were the fewest recorded by a Dodgers opponent this season and the shutout victory was OKC's second of 2017. The last time the Dodgers held an opponent to two or fewer hits was Aug. 22, 2016 in New Orleans, when the Dodgers kept the Zephyrs to two hits in a 7-0 OKC victory...

At 2 hours, 7 minutes, it was the team's quickest nine-inning game since the RedHawks defeated Colorado Springs, 1-0, in a brisk 1 hour, 59 minutes on May 13, 2014.

Bell(inger) of the Ball(park): Cody Bellinger went 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI and stolen base last night. He currently ranks among the PCL leaders in several categories, including hits (23, 11th), runs (15, T-4th), home runs (5, T-3rd), RBI (15, T-7th) and slugging percentage (.627, 9th). He is also tied for second with seven stolen bases, which is already just one shy of his season total from 2016 and three off his career high, set in 2015...Through his first 21 regular-season Triple-A games going back to the end of the 2016 season, Bellinger has batted .372 (29x78) with four doubles, eight home runs, 21 RBI and 20 runs scored.

Verdugo-ing with the Flow: Alex Verdugo picked up another hit Monday night and has now hit safely in four straight games (5x13). He has also hit safely in 13 of his last 15 starts, going 22-for-56 (.393) with four doubles, two triples, six RBI and seven runs scored...His .361 batting average paces the Dodgers, while his 22 hits are second-most on the team. Warming Up?: The Dodgers' offense made some more progress last night, tallying eight hits for the second straight game. However, 14 of Oklahoma City's 16 hits during the two-game span have been singles...Over the last 14 games, the Dodgers have batted just .221 (101x456) with 27 extra-base hits and 54 runs.

Swiping Right: The Dodgers stole two more bases Monday and have now recorded a steal in five straight games, with eight steals during the stretch. Oklahoma City has 19 steals through 19 games this season to rank fifth in the PCL, and they are 19-for-23 in their attempts as a team.

Solo Acts: Bobby Wilson's homer in the fifth inning last night ensured the Dodgers still have not gone consecutive games without going deep this season. Although their 20 dingers rank fourth in the league, only three of them have occurred with at least one runner on base. Each of the team's last 11 homers have been solo shots, as well as 15 of the last 16. Forever Young-iner: Over his last four games, reliever Madison Younginer has surrendered one run over a total of 7.0 IP and held opponents 3-for-24. He has struck out 15 of the 25 batters he's faced...His 16.2 strikeouts per nine innings currently rank second among PCL relievers.

Today's Starting Pitcher Jair Jurrjens (1-0, 3.78) Bats/Throws: Right/Right Height/Weight: 6-1/200 Born: 1/29/1986 in Santa Maria, Curacao | Resides: Atlanta, Ga. Acquired by Dodgers: Signed as a free agent, March 29, 2017 Last Game: Struggled with command in a no decision Wednesday night against Nashville...allowed five runs and four hits over 4.2 innings...walked five batters after having not issued a walk all season; marked most walks in a game since Aug. 10, 2013 while pitching for Triple-A Toledo vs. Indianapolis...notched three strikeouts...walked the first batter of the game and later gave up a two-run homer to Chris Parmelee with two outs in the first inning...settled in after the home run, retiring eight of the next nine batters faced...labored in the fifth inning, throwing 35 pitches before exiting the game and giving up three runs...surrendered a solo home run to Ryan Lavarnway...Sounds were aided by a controversial safe call at third base that appeared to be the second out; following that play, he committed a balk that scored a run and walked three of the next four batters faced...held left-handed batters 1-for-8 with two walks...threw 81 pitches (45 strikes).

Against Memphis: Faced off against the Redbirds twice in his career, once in 2014 with Colorado Springs and in 2015 with Albuqerque, with both outings at AutoZone Park in Memphis...

is 0-1 with a 2.00 ERA...between the two outings combined, allowed two runs and nine hits over 9.0 innings...recorded only two strikeouts, but did not allow a walk...Redbirds went 9-for-34 combined (.265)...on July 19, 2014, credited with a complete game in a 1-0 loss during game one of a doubleheader; scattered four hits over 6.0 innings, and the only run allowed was on a solo homer by Randal Grichuk in the sixth inning; did not have a runner in scoring position...last meeting was Aug. 18, 2015; allowed one run and five hits over 3.0 innings of relief; all hits were singles...did not figure in the decision in the Isotopes' 5-4 loss. 2017: - Currently ranks sixth among qualified PCL starting pitchers with a .197 opponent average and seventh with a 1.02 WHIP...opponents are 3-for-23 (.160) with runners on and 2-for-16 (.125) with runners in scoring position. - Over first two starts, allowed just two runs and eight hits over 12.0 strong innings...racked up eight strikeouts and did not allow a walk.

- Turned in a strong season debut April 9 at home against Iowa and picked up his first win in OKC's 12- 1 victory (team's first win of the season)...allowed one run and three hits over 6.0 innings, with no walks and three strikeouts...only run allowed was on a solo home run by Ian Happ in the sixth inning -- the second-to-last batter he faced...worked around a leadoff double in the first inning...after that double, retired 14 of the next 15 batters, with the only batter not retired reaching on an error...retired 11 straight batters between the second and fifth innings...

held Iowa 0-for-7 with runners on base, including 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position...never threw more than 16 pitches in an inning...threw 80 pitches (47 strikes).

- Delivered second consecutive quality start April 14, holding Nashville to one run and five hits over 6.0 innings at First Tennessee Park...did not figure in the decision in OKC's 3-2 win...

retired 11 of 13 batters over first four innings, giving up two hits...worked around a leadoff double by Bruce Maxwell in the third inning (stranded at third base)...nicked for one run and three hits in the fifth inning, including back-to-back two-out singles by the eighth- and ninth-place batters...finished outing with a 1-2-3 sixth inning...held Nashville 2-for-10 with runners on and 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position...retired the side on 10 or fewer pitches in three of six frames...left game in a 1-1 tie.

- Appeared in three games (two starts) in the 2017 World Baseball Classic as a member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...went 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA with nine strikeouts and four walks in 11.1 innings...held opponents 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position...turned in 6.0 strong innings during a win against Team Israel on March 13; allowed one run and five hits, with no walks and five strikeouts...delivered 2.1 scoreless innings out the bullpen in the Netherlands' seminfinal loss against Puerto Rico.

- Following the WBC, signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 29.

2016: - Spent the season with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League...made 16 starts and went 6-7 with a 5.38 ERA.

- Placed on the Disabled List twice and was released in August. Career: - 31-year-old right-handed pitcher enters his 14th professional season and first with Los Angeles.

- Last pitched in the U.S. in 2015 with Triple-A Albuquerque (Colorado), going 2-5 with a 6.88 ERA with 39 strikeouts against 23 walks in 17 appearances (14 starts)...posted a 2.31 ERA (6 ER/23.1 IP) through his first six outings (five starts)...went 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA with four strikeouts against three walks in three relief appearances (9.2 IP) and limited opposing hitters to a .250 average...placed on the Disabled List twice with a right groin strain. - In eight Major League seasons with Detroit (2007), Atlanta (2008-12), Baltimore (2013) and Colorado (2014), posted a 53-38 record with a 3.72 ERA with 514 strikeouts against 264 walks in 130 games.

- Finished third in the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Geovany Soto and Joey Votto, after going 13-10 with a 3.68 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 31 starts with ATL.

- Finished third in the NL with a 2.60 ERA in 2009 behind Chris Carpenter (2.24) and Tim Lincecum (2.48).

- Selected as a 2011 NL All-star after going 12-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 16 starts prior to the All-Star break...struck out 65 in 110.2 innings while limiting the opposition to a .229 average and posted a 1.07 WHIP...finished the season having allowed two or fewer earned runs in 26 of his 34 starts...tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout against Baltimore on July 1.

- Traded fom Detroit to Atlanta on Oct. 29, 2007 along with Gorkys Hernandez in exchange for Edgar Renteria. - Made his Major League debut Aug. 15, 2007 for Detroit against Cleveand...became the first pitcher from Curacao to reach the Majors. - Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 2003.

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