OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 22, 2018
Published on July 22, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City Dodgers (54-43) vs. Nashville Sounds (48-51)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland A's
Game #98 of 140/Road #49 of 70 (24-24)
Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Manny Bañuelos (8-4, 3.40) vs. NAS-RHP James Naile (5-9, 4.18)
Sunday, July 22, 2018 | First Tennessee Park | Nashville, Tenn. | 6:15 p.m. CT
Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman
Today's Game: The Oklahoma City Dodgers and Nashville Sounds wrap up their four-game series and season series at 6:15 p.m. at First Tennessee Park. The Dodgers lead the current series, 2-1, while they trail in the season series, 7-8.
Yesterday's Games: The Dodgers and Nashville traded wins across a doubleheader Saturday night, with the Dodgers winning the opener, 6-1, before being blanked, 4-0, in the second game at First Tennessee Park. In Game 1, the Dodgers put together a five-run rally in the second inning. Kyle Garlick opened the scoring with a RBI double. Then with two outs, Jake Peter and Connor Joe hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 3-0. Edwin RÃ-os stepped up next and sent a two-run homer to right-center field for his fifth home run of the season. Nashville got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI groundout by B.J. Boyd to pull within 5-1. In the sixth, Henry Ramos sent a line drive off the right field foul pole, extending the lead back to five runs. Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart (2-1) labored through five innings, but held the Sounds to one run and earned the win. Nashville starting pitcher Raul Alcántara (4-2) took the loss...In Game 2, the Sounds rallied with two outs in the third inning. After J.P. Sportman walked, Brett Vertigan sent a RBI double to deep right field to make it 1-0. In the fourth inning, with two out and two runners on base, Bruce Maxwell hit a bounder through the middle to plate both runners and extend the lead to 3-0. Anthony Garcia added a solo homer in the sixth inning. The Dodgers were limited to five hits during the game, as they were shut out for the fifth time this season. Four Nashville relievers covered all seven innings. Dean Kiekhefer (6-0) retired nine of 11 batters faced over three scoreless innings and earned the win. Dodgers starting pitcher Zach Neal (2-1) was charged with the loss.
Today's Probable Pitcher: Staff leader Manny Bañuelos (8-4) makes his team-leading 17th start of the season tonight for the Dodgers...The lefty pitched just 2.1 innings in his last start July 14 in Round Rock due to being ejected in the third inning after getting into an argument and dustup at first base with the Express' Scott Heineman. He allowed one run and two hits, with three walks and four strikeouts in the no decision...Over his last three starts, Bañuelos has surrendered 10 runs and 19 hits over 12.2 innings. During that time opponents have batted .339 (19x56)...Bañuelos was one of four OKC Dodgers selected to the Mid-Season PCL All-Star Team. It was his third career Mid-Season All-Star honor and the second time he's been selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game (also 2015 with Gwinnett). However, he was unable to participate in the All-Star Game...Bañuelos currently ranks third in the PCL with 102 strikeouts, while his 3.40 ERA ranks fourth in the league. He is posting 10.76 strikeouts per nine innings - most among PCL starting pitchers...In addition to starts, wins and strikeouts, he leads OKC in innings (84.2)...He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent Nov. 14, 2017 after spending the 2017 season with Triple-A Salt Lake in the Los Angeles Angels organization...Tonight is his third start of the season against the Sounds. He is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA over 10.1 IP with three walks and 11 strikeouts, and the Sounds have batted .279.
Against the Sounds: 2018: 7-8 2017: 11-5 All-time: 183-152 At NAS: 88-80
The Dodgers are playing their fourth and final series of the season against the Sounds...The teams last met June 26-28 in OKC with the Sounds completing a four-game sweep. Each Sounds victory was by one run. It was the first time the Dodgers were swept in a four-game series since May 23-26, 2016 at Fresno and the first time they were swept at home in a four-game set since June 2-5, 2015 vs. Sacramento. Additionally, it was the first time the Sounds swept OKC in a four-game series since 2006 and the first time they swept any series in Bricktown in 17 years...In their last meeting in Music City, the Sounds and Dodgers split a weather-abbreviated series, 2-2, May 25-28. The teams combined to score just 18 runs total...In 2017, the Dodgers won the season series, 11-5, posting at least 10 wins against the Sounds for the third straight year. OKC outscored the Sounds, 85-54, and Dodgers pitchers racked up 158 strikeouts in 16 meetings for an average of 9.9 per game...Both games yesterday were decided by at least for runs, snapping a streak of eight straight games decided by one run...Regardless of tonight's outcome, OKC will not win the season series against the Sounds for just the second time in eight seasons.
Oh Henry!: Henry Ramos put together multi-hit outings in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, going a combined 4-for-6 with a double and home run. Ramos has hit safely in four straight games, in six straight starts and in six of his last seven games overall, going 9-for-22 (.409)...Ramos paces the Dodgers with 43 RBI this season and ranks second among Dodgers players with 84 hits through 83 games in 2018...He ranks tied for second on the team with nine homers this season, five of which have come since June 26.
Unlucky 13: Alex Verdugo was held 0-for-3 in Game 2 of Saturday night's doubleheader to snap his 13-game hitting streak. The streak tied his longest hitting streak of the season (June 3-18) and tied Rocky Gale for the longest hitting streak by a Dodger in 2018...During the streak, Verdugo batted .458 (22x48) with seven multi-hit outings, two homers and six runs scored...Verdugo has 38 hits over his last 27 games. He paces the Dodgers with 90 hits in only 66 games, and his .350 season batting average is tied for tops in the PCL with Salt Lake's David Fletcher, who is currently with the Los Angeles Angels.
It's Not Rocket Science: The Dodgers are 8-3 over the last 11 games. In the eight wins, the team has batted .302 (90x298) with 53 runs and 10 homers, while scoring at least five runs each game. In the three losses, the team has batted .198 (18x91) with three runs, no homers and has not scored past the first inning...Yesterday's 4-0 loss in Game 2 marked the team's fifth shutout defeat of the season and third against Nashville in 2018.
Welcome Back: Since returning from the Disabled List last week, both Tim Locastro and Donovan Solano have had noticeable impacts. Solano is 9-for-23 with a pair of games with three-plus hits, seven RBI and four runs scored over six games total. Locastro has hit safely in seven of his eight starts, going 10-for-31 with 10 runs scored...July 15 was the first day both players were active, and since then, the team is 4-0 when both are in the starting lineup and 2-3 when one or neither is in the lineup.
Around the Horn: The Dodgers lost 12 of their final 15 games entering the PCL All-Star Break, but have won eight of their 12 games following the break and have now regained sole possession of first place in the American Northern Division for the first time since July 3...The Dodgers have scored first in 11 of the last 13 games and are 7-4 during that stretch when striking first. The team is 8-8 the last 16 times scoring first after beginning the season 30-5...OKC designated hitters this season have combined to bat .344 with 23 XBH and 22 RBI over 47 games...Entering tonight, the Dodgers are 5-2 in series finales when they have a chance to win the series...Eleven of Kyle Farmer's 20 hits this month have gone for extra bases, and since July 3, his 10 doubles are the most in Triple-A and tied for second-most in the Minors overall.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 22, 2018
- Chihuahuas Earn Series Win with 10-3 Decision - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Two-Out Trouble Dooms Dodgers - Oklahoma City Comets
- Late home run not enough, River Cats stymied in El Paso - Sacramento River Cats
- 51s Host Nashville & Memphis from July 24-30 - Las Vegas Aviators
- Sounds Topple Dodgers in Series Finale - Nashville Sounds
- Rainiers Fall To Bees 3-2, Drop Sixth Straight - Tacoma Rainiers
- Express Top Chasers 5-2 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Chasers, Express Split Saturday Twinbill - Omaha Storm Chasers
- O'Neill Blasts Three Home Runs in Win - Memphis Redbirds
- Pena Leads Express to 5-2 Win over Storm Chasers - Round Rock Express
- I-Cubs Steal Series from Baby Cakes - Iowa Cubs
- Cubs Rally to Defeat 'Cakes - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- O'Neill's Three-Home Run Game Powers Redbirds Past Sky Sox - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Nashville Sounds Game Information: Oklahoma City Dodgers (54-43) at Nashville Sounds (48-51) - Nashville Sounds
- Bees Blank Rainiers - Salt Lake Bees
- Bees Take Down Tacoma in Extras - Salt Lake Bees
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 22, 2018 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Ildemaro Vargas Extends Hit Streak Saturday Night - Reno Aces
- Rainiers Clipped By Bees In Extras, 2-1 - Tacoma Rainiers
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