PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - June 17, 2015

Published on June 17, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City Dodgers (42-22) vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox (26-37)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Game #65 of 144/Road #35 of 72 (23-11)

Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Ian Thomas (3-0, 7.11) vs. COL-RHP Drew Gagnon (1-8, 7.64)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 | Security Service Field | Colorado Springs, Colo. | 1:35 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The Dodgers close out their brief three-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox at 1:35 p.m. Central time at Security Service Field. Neither of the first two games have lasted nine innings and both were completed early due to rain and/or wet grounds. The series is tied, 1-1.

Last Game: Colorado Springs prevailed against the Dodgers Tuesday night, defeating Oklahoma City, 2-1, in a contest stopped in the sixth inning due to unplayable field conditions at Security Service Field. In the middle of the sixth inning, the game entered a rain delay. A little over an hour later, the grounds crew had removed the tarp and the teams returned to the field, but after further examination, it was determined some areas of the field were unplayable, forcing the game to be called. The Sky Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. With a runner at third and one out, Yadiel Rivera worked a 13-pitch at-bat, resulting in a RBI single to give Colorado Springs a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers tied the game in the top of the fourth, when Andy Wilkins collected a RBI single with two outs to even things up at 1-1. The Sky Sox regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Logan Schafer led off with a double and advanced to third on a lineout by Rivera. Schafer then scored on a sacrifice fly by Pete Orr to push the Sky Sox ahead, 2-1. Nick Additon (2-2) picked up the win for the Sky Sox, allowing one run and three hits over 5.0 innings. Dodgers reliever Matt West (0-1) ended up with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in the fourth inning. Sky Sox reliever Michael Kirkman was credited with his first save of the season.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Ian Thomas (3-0) looks for a third win in as many starts this afternoon in Colorado Springs...He most recently started last Friday against Nashville in OKC and earned his third overall win with OKC, holding the Sounds to two runs on seven hits over a season-high 5.1 innings. He issued one walk and struck out four...Thomas was recently acquired by the Dodgers as part of a six-player trade with the Atlanta Braves on May 27. After appearing in one game with OKC on May 28 in Salt Lake and earning a win, he made his L.A. Dodgers debut June 2 against the Colorado Rockies during game one of a doubleheader. He was optioned back to OKC the next day...Traditionally a relief pitcher throughout his career, Thomas has been moved into the starting rotation since rejoining OKC. Today will be just his 20th career start out of 113 career appearances...Prior to the trade, Thomas made a combined 14 appearances within the Braves organization between Atlanta, Triple-A Gwinnett, and Double-A Mississippi. He allowed a total of three runs (two earned) and nine hits over 21.0 IP. Most of his action came at the Triple-A level, where Thomas threw 12.2 scoreless innings over seven appearances and held International League opponents to a .122 average...Today will mark his first career appearance against the Sky Sox.

Against the Sky Sox: 2015: 1-1 2014: 9-7 All-time: 78-56 In COL: 30-36

OKC had its five-game winning streak against Colorado Springs dating back to last season end last night...Oklahoma City won the 2014 season series with the Sky Sox, going 9-7 overall, including 3-5 in Colorado Springs...Oklahoma City swept the most recent series between the teams Aug. 2-5, 2014 in Bricktown, outscoring the Sky Sox, 33-13...During OKC's last trip to the Centennial State, the Sky Sox won three of four, June 30-July 3, 2014...Oklahoma City has won the last three season series and has not lost any of the last four.

Winning Ways: The Dodgers' season-long seven-game winning streak came to an end last night, which was the team's longest since Aug. 15-21, 2013. The loss in the abbreviated game also spoiled the team's bid to reach 22 games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 31, 2004...OKC has been victorious in eight of the last 10 contests, immediately following a season-high five-game losing streak...The Dodgers are one of three teams in the Minors with at least 42 wins. The High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs pace the Minors with 44 victories.

Road Warriors: The Dodgers have won 10 of their last 13 road games and own the league's best road record at 23-11. They average almost one more run per game on the road (4.7) than at home (3.9) and have hit 35 dingers on the road, compared to 22 at home...OKC has not dropped consecutive road games since a four-game skid May 11-13 between Omaha and New Orleans (two games on May 11).

Reversal of Fortune: Although the game was cut short last night, the Dodgers were limited to one run and went 4-for-21 as a team (.190). During the seven-game winning streak, the Dodgers batted .303 (70x231) with eight home runs and scored 42 runs (6.0 rpg) . They batted .304 (17x56) with runners in scoring position throughout the winning streak, but were held 1-for-5 last night.

Wilk this Way: Andy Wilkins is currently riding a season-best six-game hitting streak, batting .500 (10x20) with a pair of homers, three doubles, eight RBI, and four multi-hit games...Last night he drove in the team's lone run, marking his 10th RBI over his last eight games. After not collecting a RBI in his first eight games with OKC, he's picked up 24 RBI over his last 28 games.

Off the Top: Leadoff man Darnell Sweeney has hit safely in seven straight games, going 11-for-27 (.407) with four multi-hit games. During the last six games, he's reached base safely in 12 of 25 plate appearances (.480 OBP)...This month he is pacing the club with a .355 average, 22 hits (T-2nd in PCL), and 10 runs scored.

A Real Barnes Burner: Austin Barnes did not play last night, but over the past two games he's 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles and five RBI. Barnes has hit safely in seven straight and in eight of his past nine games. During his current hitting streak, he's batting .428 (12x28) with eight RBI and seven runs scored.

Hectoring the Opponent: After going 0-for-4 in his team debut Saturday, Hector Olivera is 6-for-8 his past two games combined. Between OKC and Double-A Tulsa, the Cuban import is 12-for-24 with a home run and six RBI over his past six games.

Odds & Ends: Yesterday marked the team's third game this season that was completed early, matching the total over the past six seasons combined. (Three of the six shortened games during that time have been in Colorado Springs.)...The pitching staff allowed four walks over 5.0 innings last night, after surrendering just seven walks over the previous eight games combined. It's just the third time they finished a game with more walks than strikeouts (May 8 at Omaha; June 1 vs. Fresno)...The Dodgers have not homered since setting a team record Friday night with five homers in a single home game.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER

Thursday, June 18 7:05 p.m. Memphis RHP Joe Wieland (5-3, 5.19) RHP Zach Petrick (4-4, 3.91)

Friday, June 19 7:05 p.m. Memphis RHP Deck McGuire (2-2, 3.34) RHP Thomas Lee (1-0, 0.00)

Saturday, June 20 7:05 p.m. Memphis LHP Eric Surkamp (2-2, 6.35) LHP Nick Greenwood (5-1, 6.85)

Sunday, June 21 6:05 p.m. Memphis TBA LHP John Gast (3-4, 4.22)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 17, 2015


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