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PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 4, 2015

July 4, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Omaha Storm Chasers (43-39) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (53-27)

Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game #81 of 144/Home #38 of 72 (24-13)

Pitching Probables: OMA-LHP John Lamb (8-1, 2.71) vs. OKC-RHP Deck McGuire (3-3, 3.91)

Saturday, July 4, 2015 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7:05 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The Oklahoma City Dodgers try for a fifth straight win when they open up a four-game home series against the Omaha Storm Chasers at 7:05 p.m. as part of an Independence Day celebration at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers have won five of their last six games and have matched the team's best-ever record since joining the PCL in 1998 at 26 games over .500.

Last Game: Darnell Sweeney's three-run homer in the fifth inning provided all of the Dodgers' runs, and the OKC pitching staff held Memphis scoreless after the first inning in a 3-2 win Friday night at AutoZone Park. The Redbirds took a quick 2-0 lead in their first at-bat. The Redbirds had three hits in the inning, and Ed Easley and Jacob Wilson each hit sacrifice flies. Sweeney put the Dodgers in front with a three-run home run to left-center field with one out in the fifth for a 3-2 Dodgers advantage. After Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Baker left the game with an injury in the third inning, the OKC bullpen provided 6.1 scoreless innings through the remainder of the game. Matt West (1-1) earned the win after he tossed 2.1 scoreless frames, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. Dodgers pitchers Danny Coulombe and Juan Gonzalez combined to hold Memphis scoreless between the sixth and eighth innings before Ryan Buchter pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save. Redbirds starting pitcher Jimmy Reed (0-1) took the loss in his Triple-A debut.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Deck McGuire (3-3) makes his eighth start of the season with the Dodgers tonight...He most recently pitched Monday in a rain-shortened game in Nashville. He was charged with the loss, after allowing four runs and six hits over 3.2 innings - his shortest outing with OKC this season...McGuire was promoted to OKC on May 24 from Double-A Tulsa, where he went 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA over seven starts. He currently leads Dodgers minor leaguers in innings pitched (89.0) and is in a four-way tie for the organizational lead with seven wins. His 74 strikeouts rank tied for third, and his composite 3.34 ERA is fourth among full-season minor leaguers...In six of 15 overall games, he's held his opponent to one or no runs, and to two or fewer runs in 10 of 15 outings. He's lasted at least 6.0 innings in 10 of his 14 starts...McGuire led OKC in both innings (32.1) and strikeouts (27), and was tied for the team lead in starts (5) during the month of June...Tonight marks his first career appearance against Omaha.

Against the Storm Chasers: 2015: 5-3 2014: 7-9 All-time: 130-118 In OKC: 67-59

Tonight opens the third series of the season between the teams...OKC split the most recent series with the Storm Chasers May 8-11 at Werner Park. OKC won the first two games of that series before Omaha swept a doubleheader on May 11 by a combined score of 20-4... The teams last met in Bricktown April 25-28, with the Dodgers winning three of four games. It marked the team's first four-game series win against the Storm Chasers since a road sweep July 16-19, 2012 and their first four-game series win at home since June 26-29, 2010...Scott Schebler has been the team's offensive leader, batting .400 (10x25) with two homers and four RBI against the Storm Chasers...Oklahoma City is 0-3-1 in the season series over the last four seasons.

Victory Lane: The league-leading Dodgers have won five of their last six games, including four straight, to match Oklahoma City's all-time best record of 26 games above .500. The only other time an Oklahoma City team was 26 games above .500 was Sept. 2, 1999 (82-56)...With Double-A Corpus Christi losing last night to Tulsa, the Dodgers currently lead both the Minors and Majors with 53 wins...OKC leads the American Northern Division by 11 games, marking the team's largest first-place lead since July 30, 2008.

Sweep Stakes: Oklahoma City got its second series sweep of the season with Friday's 3-2 win, and first road series sweep since April 7-10, 2014 in New Orleans. It was also the team's first-ever sweep in Memphis.

Fortunes on the 4th: OKC has won six of the last seven games on the 4th of July, including the last the last four straight. They are 6-9 all-time in July 4 games (4-4 in Oklahoma City). Last season, the RedHawks trailed Iowa, 3-0, before rallying for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back and win, 4-3...OKC and Omaha have met just once previously on July 4 --- a 4-0 RedHawks win on July 4, 2006. The teams were scheduled to play each other on July 4, 2009 in OKC, but the game was rained out.

Bringing the Boom: The Dodgers belted nine home runs over their four games in Memphis, marking the team's highest home run total in a single series since swatting 11 in Omaha, July 16-19, 2012...For the fourth time this season, the Dodgers have hit at least one home run in four straight games. However, they have yet to homer in five straight.

Steaming Sweeney: Darnell Sweeney continued his recent offensive tear Friday, providing a key three-run homer and collecting his fourth straight multi-hit game. The PCL All-Star is on a six-game hitting streak and is 12-for-24 with seven extra-base hits (3 HR), seven RBI, and seven runs. Sweeney leads the PCL with 26 stolen bases ranks among the league's best with 89 hits (T-3rd) and 21 doubles (T-8th). He also leads OKC with 28 multi-hit games, 36 RBI, and 44 runs scored.

Darwin's Evolution: Darwin Barney is currently riding a season-best eight-game hitting streak, going 14-for-35 (.400) with four multi-hit games. Since rejoining the OKC Dodgers, Barney has hit safely in 12 of 13 contests, recording seven multi-hit games. He's batting .415 (22x53) with two home runs, three doubles, seven RBI, and nine runs scored.

Bullish Pen: Last night four OKC Dodgers relievers combined to work 6.1 scoreless innings after starting pitcher Scott Baker left with an injury in the third inning. The quartet of Matt West, Danny Coulombe, Juan Gonzalez, and Ryan Buchter scattered six hits and registered seven strikeouts. Over the last seven games, the bullpen has allowed just one run and 16 hits over 23.2 IP, with six walks and 23 strikeouts.

By the Buchter: Ryan Buchter closed out last night's game with a scoreless ninth inning, notching his third save of the season. The recently named All-Star has turned in 15 consecutive scoreless appearances and has only been scored upon once in 24 outings. Over his last 17.0 innings, he's allowed just 10 hits with four walks and 18 strikeouts.

Opening Remarks: OKC is 16-5 in series openers this season (8-2 at home). They have won six of the last seven series openers.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Sunday, July 5 6:05 p.m. Omaha LHP Eric Surkamp (4-2, 4.50) RHP Kris Medlen (0-0, 4.91)

Monday, July 6 7:05 p.m. Omaha RHP Brandon Beachy (1-0, 1.64) RHP Yohan Pino (4-3, 5.14)

Tuesday, July 7 7:05 p.m. Omaha LHP Ian Thomas (3-1, 7.09) RHP Andy Ferguson (1-2, 4.66)

Wednesday, July 8 8:05 p.m. @ Colorado Springs TBA TBA

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