OKC Dodgers Game Notes - June 3, 2016
Published on June 3, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Iowa Cubs (25-26) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (26-25)
Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Game #52 of 144/Home #22 of 73 (9-12)
Pitching Probables: IOW-LHP Rob Zastryzny (1-0, 3.75) vs. OKC-RHP Jharel Cotton (4-3, 5.45)
Friday, June 3, 2016 | 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 and Iowa Cubs wrap up their rain-shortened three-game series at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers are trying to avoid a fourth straight loss overall, as well as a fourth consecutive home loss. Tonight's post-game fireworks are presented by FAA Credit Union.
Last Game: Thursday night's game was postponed due to rain. No makeup date has been selected yet...On Wednesday night, the Dodgers scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and moved the game-winning run into scoring position, but eventually fell to Iowa, 5-4. The Dodgers entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing, 5-2, before drawing three straight walks from Iowa pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. to load the bases with one out. Later with two outs, Scott Van Slyke connected on a two-run single to cut Iowa's lead to one run. With runners at second and third base, Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes struck out for the game's final out. The Dodgers took the first lead of the game in the first inning. Antoan Richardson singled, then scored on a one-out double by Barnes for a 1-0 lead. Iowa's Dan Vogelbach led off the second inning with a triple, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Albert Almora Jr. to tie the game, 1-1. The I-Cubs took a 2-1 lead on a RBI double by Willson Contreras in the third inning. Vogelbach led off the top of the fourth inning with a double, then scored on a RBI single by Almora. Barnes singled in the bottom of the fourth inning, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Rob Segedin to cut Iowa's lead to 3-2. Iowa added two runs with two outs in the seventh inning on a RBI triple by Arismendy Alcantara and RBI single by Contreras for a 5-2 lead. Iowa starting pitcher Drew Rucinski (4-4) earned the win and Dodgers starting pitcher Carlos Frias (0-2) was hit with the loss.
Today's Probable Pitcher: Reigning PCL Pitcher of the Week Jharel Cotton (4-3) returns to the mound...On Monday Cotton was named PCL Pitcher of the Week for May 23-29. Over his two starts spanning 10.0 IP, Cotton allowed two runs and four hits, with 15 strikeouts and three walks. Opponents went 4-for-35 and he retired at least 10 consecutive batters at one point during each start...In his previous outing Sunday afternoon in Sacramento, Cotton allowed one run over five innings in his fourth win of the season. He struck out five batters and walked two. At the plate, Cotton was 2-for-2 with a RBI triple and a run scored...On May 23 in Fresno, Cotton retired 15 of 17 batters overall and finished with 10 strikeouts over five innings. He allowed one run, one hit, and one walk. It marked the fifth double digit strikeout game of his career, as Cotton became the first OKC pitcher with 10 K's in only five innings since Robinson Tejeda Aug. 13, 2006 at Round Rock...Cotton has 51 strikeouts and 13 walks over 39.2 innings (3.92 K/BB). He leads the Dodgers and is tied for fifth in the league in strikeouts, and he averages 11.57 strikeouts per nine innings...Today marks his second career start and third career appearance against the I-Cubs. He started April 24 in Iowa, earning his second win of the season (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR).
Against the I-Cubs: 2016: 3-3 2015: 12-4 All-time: 127-132 At OKC: 68-60
The I-Cubs have won consecutive games in a series against the Dodgers after failing do so in each of the past five series between the teams. A win today would give Iowa its first sweep in OKC since Aug. 10-13, 2007...The Dodgers won the first series of the 2016 season between the teams, 3-1, in Des Moines, April 23-26. Rob Segedin hit .400 in the series with a team-leading eight hits, two home runs, six RBI, and nine runs scored...The Dodgers won the 2015 series between the teams, 12-4, but the Dodgers hit just .216. Nine of the 16 meetings were decided by one or two runs, including a 6-4 Dodgers win during the teams' epic 19-inning showdown Sept. 1 in OKC.
Barnes Burner: Austin Barnes notched his fourth consecutive multi-hit game Wednesday going 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, run scored, and a stolen base. It was his fifth three-game game of 2016. He's now hit safely in a season-best six straight games, going 11-for-25 (.440) during the stretch...Despite playing in only 36 of the team's 51 games, Barnes leads the squad in both walks (24) and stolen bases (12) and is tied for the team lead in doubles (8).
Special K: OKC's pitching staff struck out 11 batters Wednesday, including eight by starting pitcher Carlos Frias. It marked the 23rd time this season (51 games) the Dodgers have struck out at least 10 batters in a game...The Dodgers rank second in the league with 459 strikeouts this season. Nashville leads the league with 480 strikeouts, but has played three more games than OKC.
Grant Application: Since rejoining the OKC Dodgers in mid-May, Grant Dayton has been nearly untouchable. Over seven appearances, the lefty reliever has allowed one unearned run and four hits over 9.2 IP (4x33; .121 BAA). He's impressively struck out 51.5 percent of the batters he's faced during that time (17/33).
Stuck in a Rut: The Dodgers have lost three straight games and nine of their last 11 contests. Of those nine defeats, six have been by one or two runs, and five have been by just one run....During the 11-game stretch, the Dodgers are batting .242 (91x376) and have scored 45 runs. The pitching staff has posted a 5.66 ERA (61 ER/97.0 IP)...Tonight the Dodgers seek to avoid losing four straight home games for the first time since losing five in a row Aug. 4-8, 2015.
RISPy Business: On Wednesday the Dodgers went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. In a game in which they ultimately lost by one run, the Dodgers left six runners in scoring position, including three at third base, and had another runner thrown out at the plate. It also marked the seventh time in the last eight games the Dodgers have finished with one or no hits with runners in scoring position. During that time they are batting .196 (11x56) with runners in scoring position, but five of those hits came Monday night...On the other hand, the I-Cubs are 13-for-29 (.448) with runners in scoring position to start the series, and opponents are 19-for-41 (.463) over the last three games.
Rain, Rain Go Away: Last night was the fourth game postponed this season for the Dodgers, but they have yet to make any of them up. OKC currently has doubleheaders scheduled for June 9 vs. Nashville, July 9 vs. Omaha, and September 3 at Omaha...A makeup date for last night's game has yet to be determined.
Short Hops: Zach Walters has hit safely in five straight games, going 5-for-16 with seven RBI. He batted .280 in May after hitting just .170 in April...The Dodgers have tied their season-long home run drought, as they have not gone deep in four straight games (previously April 18-21)...Wednesday night marked just the second time in the past 11 games an OKC starting pitcher has lasted six innings.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)
DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER
Saturday, June 4 6:05 p.m. at Round Rock RHP Frankie Montas (0-0, 0.00) RHP Nick Martinez (5-3, 4.61)
Sunday, June 5 7:05 p.m. at Round Rock RHP Zach Lee (6-3, 4.58) RHP Nick Tepesch (4-2, 4.11)
Monday, June 6 7:05 p.m. at Round Rock RHP Carlos Frias (0-2, 7.62) LHP Michael Roth (4-1, 1.70)
Tuesday, June 7 7:05 p.m. at Round Rock RHP Jeremy Kehrt (3-3, 4.79) RHP Kyle Lohse (2-1, 6.23)
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 3, 2016
- Chihuahuas Win Friday to Sweep Sacramento - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Reyes, Cardullo Power Isotopes to Victory - Albuquerque Isotopes
- ABQ steals series finale 3-2 on Friday, splits with Grizz - Fresno Grizzlies
- I-Cubs Pull Away Late in 7-5 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sky Sox Sweep Omaha with 6-1 Win - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Redbirds Cannot Clinch Series in 5-1 Loss to New Orleans - Memphis Redbirds
- Corporan Leads Zephyrs to 5-1 Win and Split in Memphis - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Express, Sounds Postponed in Nashville Due to Rain - Round Rock Express
- Sounds and Express Postponed - Nashville Sounds
- Chihuahuas "What Could Have Been Night" to Feature the New Team Name: Desert Gators - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Nelson Placed on Disabled List, Bianchi Returns - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Beeler Returns to Iowa on Major League Rehab - Iowa Cubs
- Washington Named Cardinals' Minor League Player of the Month - Memphis Redbirds
- Reno Aces Game Information: Las Vegas 51s (28-25) at Reno Aces (26-27) - Reno Aces
- Nashville Sounds Game Information: Round Rock Express (29-24) at Nashville Sounds (33-21) - Nashville Sounds
- Sounds to Host "Big Guitar Brewfest" on July 16 - Nashville Sounds
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - June 3, 2016 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Late Rally Send 51s Past Aces in Extras - Reno Aces
- Rainiers Power Past Bees, Lincecum For 6-1 Win - Tacoma Rainiers
- Lincecum Debuts for Bees - Salt Lake Bees
- Grizzlies sweep Isotopes in doubleheader - Fresno Grizzlies
- Sky Sox Storm Back to Top Omaha 13-9 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
