PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 8, 2015

Published on July 8, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City Dodgers (53-30) vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox (32-51)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Game #84 of 144/Road #44 of 73 (29-14)

Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Eric Stults (NR, -.--) vs. COL-RHP Drew Gagnon

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 | Security Service Field | Colorado Springs, Colo. | 8:05 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The Oklahoma City Dodgers open a five-game road series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox at 8:05 p.m. Central time at Security Service Field. The Dodgers look to end a three-game losing skid.

Last Game: Tuesday's home series finale against Omaha was postponed due to rain. The team's will make up the rainout as part of a doubleheader in Omaha on July 21...Omaha's offense continued to roll in Bricktown Monday in a 10-7 win against the Dodgers. The Storm Chasers piled up 16 hits for the second straight game. They took the lead in the second inning when a two-out error by Chris Heisey in right field opened the door for two runs to score. OKC's Austin Barnes hit a solo home run to left field to cut Omaha's lead to 2-1. The Storm Chasers added three runs between the third and fourth innings to make it 5-1. Oklahoma City scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, when Andy Wilkins crushed a three-run homer into the upper deck in right field to cut Omaha's lead to 5-4. However, Omaha responded with four runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning to open up a 9-4 advantage. The Dodgers scored three runs again in the bottom half of the inning. O'Koyea Dickson led off with a solo homer and Heisey drove in two runs with a two-out single to trim Omaha's lead to 9-7. The Storm Chasers tallied their final run of the night on a double play ball. Starting pitcher Yohan Pino (5-3) got the win for Omaha and Michael Mariot earned his sixth save. Dodgers starting pitcher Brandon Beachy (1-1) allowed five runs (three earned) and nine hits over six innings in the loss.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Eric Stults will make his team debut...Stults started the season with the Atlanta Braves, going 1-5 in nine appearances (eight starts) with a 5.85 ERA. He was traded to the Dodgers from the Braves on May 27 as part of a six-player deal. Immediately after he was acquired, Stults was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Double-A Tulsa...With Tulsa, Stults made five appearances (three starts), going 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA. He last pitched on July 2 against Corpus Christi, allowing no runs and three hits over five innings...Stults was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2002 June free agent draft from Bethel College in Indiana...He has made eight career starts against the Sky Sox, all while pitching for the Las Vegas 51s between 2005-08. He owns a career 4-3 record with a 3.71 ERA...Stults spent the majority of the 2011 season pitching for Colorado Springs, going 4-4 with one save and a 4.63 ERA over 52 relief appearances.

Against the Sky Sox: 2015: 4-2 2014: 9-7 All-time: 81-57 In COL: 31-36

The Dodgers have taken two of three games in each of the two previous series -- June 15-17 in Colorado Springs and June 23-25 in Bricktown. Four of the first six games have been decided by just one run, with each team going 2-2...During the last series in OKC, each of the final two games were won by a team trailing entering the ninth inning. The Dodgers won the most recent meeting, 4-3, on June 25, tying the game in the ninth inning on a one-out RBI triple from Scott Schebler, then winning on a RBI single by Buck Britton...In the first series of the season between the teams at Security Service Field, each of the first two games were shortened due to rain and/or wet grounds, and the series finale went 11 innings...Oklahoma City won the 2014 season series with the Sky Sox, going 9-7 overall, but 3-5 on the road.

Winning Waylay: The league-leading Dodgers have lost three straight games for the first time since a five-game losing skid in Bricktown June 1-5...The Dodgers are currently tied with Double-A Corpus Christi and Low-A Quad Cities for the most wins in the Minors (53).

Road Warriors: The Dodgers own the league's best road record at 29-14 and are tied with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks (29-13) for the most road wins in the Minors. The Dodgers have won their last four road games, as well as five of the last six away from OKC. Since yesterday's rainout will be made up in Omaha, Oklahoma City is now in the midst of a stretch where 26 of 33 games are on the road (5-3 road; 5-6 overall).

On the Mend: Through the first two games of his rehab assignment with OKC, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford is 4-for-7 with a double and two runs scored, and he has reached base safely in five of his first eight plate appearances. Crawford suffered a torn right oblique while taking a swing on April 27 and has been on the Disabled List since April 28...Crawford is the seventh L.A. Dodger to appear with OKC on rehab assignment this season and the sixth since June 18.

Bringing the Boom: The Dodgers went deep three times Monday night, marking the third time in the past six contests they've hit three homers in one game. They extended their current home run streak to a season-best seven straight games, and the Dodgers have belted 14 dingers over that time. They have hit 79 home runs through 83 games this season to rank fifth overall in the PCL, but second among American Conference teams (Round Rock - 82).

Darwin's Evolution: Darwin Barney went 2-for-4 with a double Monday night and is now riding a season-best 10-game hitting streak. It's his longest hitting streak since hitting safely in 13 straight, Sept. 5-18, 2012 while playing for the Chicago Cubs, and with a hit tonight, he'll tie Darnell Sweeney for the longest hitting streak by an OKC Dodger this season. During the current streak, Barney is 18-for-43 (.419) with six multi-hit games. Since rejoining the OKC Dodgers on June 18, Barney has hit safely in 14 of 15 contests, recording nine multi-hit games. He's batting .426 (26x61) with two home runs, four doubles, seven RBI, and nine runs scored.

Wilk this Way: Andy Wilkins has hit safely in each of his last six starts, going 8-for-21 (.381) with five extra-base hits (2 HR, 3 2B) and six RBI. After hitting a three-run homer Monday night, Wilkins is now in a three-way tie with Chris Heisey and Scott Schebler for the team lead with 10 home runs. He also collected his team-leading 10th multi-RBI game. Since May 17, Wilkins ranks fifth in the PCL with 33 RBI.

Turning Two: The Dodgers have turned six double plays over the last three games and 21 over their last 13 games. They have 84 double plays through 83 games this season, ranking sixth in the PCL.

Rain, Rain Go Away: Last night was the sixth rainout of the season for OKC (fourth at home). The Dodgers have also had four games completed early due to rain and five other games that included a rain delay.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPP. PITCHER

Thursday, July 9 8:05 p.m. @ Colorado Springs TBA TBA

Friday, July 10 8:05 p.m. @ Colorado Springs RHP Deck McGuire (3-4, 4.33) RHP Tyler Thornburg (1-5, 5.29)

Saturday, July 11 7:05 p.m. @ Colorado Springs TBA RHP Josh Roenicke (4-6, 5.71)

Sunday, July 12 2:35 p.m. @ Colorado Springs RHP Brandon Beachy (1-1, 2.65) RHP Hiram Burgos (1-1, 4.87)

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