OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 23, 2015
Published on July 23, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City Dodgers (60-36) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (54-44)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Kansas City Royals
Game #97 of 144/Road #53 of 73 (33-19)
Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Eric Surkamp (4-2, 4.50) vs. OMA-LHP John Lamb (9-1, 2.75)
Thursday, July 23, 2015 | Werner Park | Papillion, Neb. | 7:05 p.m. CT
Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman
Today's Game: The Dodgers try to end a three-game losing skid when they wrap up their five-game road series against the Omaha Storm Chasers at 7:05 p.m. at Werner Park. Tonight also marks the end of the season series between the American Northern Division foes. Omaha trails the league-leading Dodgers by seven games in the division standings.
Yesterday's Game: A four-run sixth inning wasn't enough for the Dodgers to overcome an early deficit to Omaha in a 5-4 loss Wednesday afternoon at Werner Park. Omaha built a 5-0 lead in the first inning. The Storm Chasers collected six hits during the rally, including five straight with one out. Through the first five innings, the Dodgers were held to just two hits and did not have a runner reach scoring position. Things changed when OKC scored four times in the sixth. Scott Schebler doubled off the wall in right-center field to plate two runs. Chris Heisey followed with a grounder to third base, but it was mishandled by Christian Colon, allowing Scheber to score and Heisey to advance to second base. Heisey stole third base before Andy Wilkins hit a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the Storm Chasers' lead to 5-4. Kyle Jensen led off the seventh inning with a double and moved to third base with one out, but the Dodgers could not bring him home. Scott Alexander retired five of the final six batters to record his 10th save. Miguel Almonte (1-0) allowed four runs (two earned) and three hits over 5.0 innings to pick up the win. Trevor Cahill (0-1) was charged with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) and eight hits over 4.0 innings.
Today's Probable Pitcher: Eric Surkamp (4-2) tries for his fifth win in seven starts when he takes the mound tonight...Surkamp has four wins in his last six outings and has not suffered a loss since June 1. Over his last six outings with OKC, the lefty has settled in, going 4-0 with a 3.18 ERA. The Dodgers have won all six games...In his most recent start July 18 against Round Rock, he allowed three runs and six hits over 6.0 innings. He issued one walk and had five strikeouts in a no decision...The outing marked his first since July 6, when he made his L.A. Dodgers debut against Philadelphia. Working out of the bullpen, he threw 3.1 innings and allowed four runs and four hits, including two home runs, in a no decision. He was optioned to OKC the next day and designated for assignment on July 8. After clearing waivers, Surkamp was outrighted to OKC on July 10...Tonight marks his first start of the season and second career appearance against Omaha. He started once against the Storm Chasers in 2013 while with the Fresno Grizzlies, holding Omaha to one run and six hits over seven innings.
Against the Storm Chasers: 2015: 6-9 2014: 7-9 All-time: 131-124 In OMA: 65-63
With yesterday's win, Omaha clinched a victory in the season series, improving their season series record to 4-0-1 against OKC over the past five years...The Storm Chasers have won eight of the last nine meetings and outscored the Dodgers, 68-41, during that time (see more below)...During the last series between the teams, Omaha swept a rain-shortened three-game set, July 4-6...The Storm Chasers (.329) are batting 87 points higher than OKC (.242) during the season series.
Storm Front: Over the last nine games against OKC, the Storm Chasers have scored 68 runs (7.6 rpg) and have batted .399 (123x308). They've notched at least 12 hits seven times and recorded at least 16 hits four times. Prior to that, the Dodgers had limited the Storm Chasers to 11 runs and a .207 team average over the first six meetings. Jose Martinez and Balbino Fuenmayor have proved to be particularly tough to retire. Martinez is 20-for-47 (.426) with seven extra-base hits and 12 RBI over 13 games (16-for-35 with 11 RBI over the last nine games). And in seven games against the Dodgers, Fuenmayor is 15-for-30 with 11 RBI. With runners in scoring position, the Storm Chasers are batting .422 (49x116), including 5-for-8 yesterday...Over the nine games, the OKC starting rotation is 1-7 with a 9.41 ERA (43.0 IP, 87 H, 53 R, 45 ER, 9 BB, 23 K).
Winning Ways: The Dodgers continue to lead the PCL with 60 wins and are tied for the second-most wins in the Minors behind Double-A Corpus Christi and Low-A Quad Cities (61)...On Monday, the Dodgers became the fastest OKC team to reach 60 wins (93 games) since the club joined the PCL in 1998. The previous fastest team to 60 wins was the 2012 squad, which reached the milestone in 104 games...Each of the last two times OKC has set a new high-water mark for most games above .500 this season, they've followed it up with three straight losses, and both losing streaks have come at the hands of Omaha.
Road Warriors: The Dodgers are four games (1-3) into a 13-game, 12-day road trip, with stops to follow in Round Rock and Memphis. The Dodgers own the league's best road record at 33-19 and trail only High-A Visalia (36-17) for the most road wins in all of the Minors. They have suffered three straight road losses for the first time since a four game skid, May 11-13 (two games on May 11). The Dodgers are now 4-5 over their last nine road games, but four of the losses have been by just one run...The Dodgers are in the midst of a stretch where 26 of 33 games are on the road (9-8 road; 12-12 overall).
Kyle's Korner: Kyle Jensen is on a season-best eight-game hitting streak, batting .393 (11x28) with five extra-base hits, eight RBI, and eight runs scored. It's his longest hit streak since hitting safely in 10 straight games July 3-12, 2014 while with the New Orleans Zephyrs.
Big Z: Shawn Zarraga is off to a hot start since joining OKC. Through his first four games, Zarraga is 7-for-17 (.412) with two extra-base hits and three RBI...Going back to his time with Double-A Tulsa, Zarraga has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games, batting .356 (21x59).
RISPy Business: Over the last eight games, the Dodgers are batting an impressive .431 (25x58) with runners in scoring position...However, opponents have been nearly as successful during that same time, batting .400 (30x75).
Rear View Mirror: The Dodgers enter today with a seven-game lead in first place ahead of Omaha atop the American Northern Division. They have lost four games off their first-place lead since July 4 (16 games), mostly because they've lost six of seven games against the Storm Chasers over that time. OKC has not had a lead smaller than seven games since June 9.
Odds & Ends: It should come as no surprise all four OKC runs scored during the sixth inning yesterday, as it's been the team's highest yielding inning this season (71 runs)...All 10 Omaha hits yesterday were singles, marking the sixth time this season OKC has not allowed an extra-base hit (last June 28 at Nashville). It was also the 12th time they have not allowed a walk (last July 4 vs. Omaha).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER
Friday, July 25 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock LHP Eric Stults (0-0, 4.63) RHP Jerad Eickhoff (8-3, 4.30)
Saturday, July 26 6:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Zach Lee (7-3, 2.36) RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (4-6, 4.25)
Sunday, July 27 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Joe Wieland (5-4, 5.61) RHP Stolmy Pimentel (3-3, 6.89)
Monday, July 28 7:05 p.m. @ Round Rock RHP Trevor Cahill (0-1, 5.19) RHP Phil Klein (1-0, 0.91)
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 23, 2015
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- Round Rock Secures Series Finale with 3-2 Win over Iowa - Round Rock Express
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- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 23, 2015 - Oklahoma City Comets
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