PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - June 4, 2017

Published on June 4, 2017 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Colorado Springs Sky Sox (31-21) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (28-24) Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Game #54 of 141/Home #28 of 70 (12-14) Pitching Probables: COS-LHP Josh Hader (3-4, 5.58) vs. OKC-RHP Justin Masterson (4-2, 2.98)

Sunday, June 4, 2017 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 2:05 p.m. CT Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman

Today's Game: The Oklahoma City Dodgers and Colorado Springs Sky Sox wrap up their four-game series at 2:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. A win this afternoon would give Oklahoma City a split in the current series. Today is Faith Night, featuring a postgame concert by Sanctus Real, and a Chaparral Energy Family Sunday. Last Game: O'Koyea Dickson hit his 15th home run of the season, and Fabio Castillo and Justin Marks combined to pitch a shutout as the Dodgers defeated Colorado Springs, 4-0, in six innings during a rain-shortened game Saturday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. With one out, the bases loaded and Willie Calhoun at the plate for the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth inning, rain started falling and the tarp was pulled onto the field. After a delay of 39 minutes, the game was called due to rain and wet field conditions. The Dodgers scored the first runs of the night in the third inning when Dickson hit a home run to left field to put the Dodgers ahead, 2-0. Oklahoma City added to its lead in the sixth inning. Back-to-back doubles down the left-field line from Dickson and Scott Van Slyke boosted OKC to a 3-0 lead. With one out, Mike Freeman hit a RBI single to right-center field for a 4-0 Dodgers advantage. Dodgers starting pitcher Fabio Castillo held the Sky Sox to one hit and recorded three strikeouts over four innings. Justin Marks (2-0) was credited with the win, pitching two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts. Colorado Springs starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (6-4) was charged with the loss, allowing all four Oklahoma City runs and five hits over 5.1 innings. He allowed four walks and notched nine strikeouts.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Justin Masterson (4-2) tries for a team-leading fifth win overall...His 2.98 ERA and .194 opponent average rank third in the PCL, while his 1.09 WHIP is tied for third. He is also seventh with 55 strikeouts...Masterson suffered his second loss of the season in his last start May 28 at New Orleans. He allowed five runs (three earned) and three hits over 3.2 innings, marking his shortest start of the season. After starting the game with three scoreless and hitless innings, Masterson stumbled in the fourth inning and could not escape before exiting the game...He's currently holding right-handed batters to a .163 clip and all batters to a .178 mark with runners on base and a .204 average with runners in scoring position...Overall, he's allowed two or fewer runs in six of his nine starts this season...The team is 6-3 in his starts, including 3-1 at home...Masterson signed with the Dodgers as a free agent March 27 after spending 2016 in the Pittsburgh organization...In eight MLB seasons, Masterson has a 64-74 record with a 4.31 ERA in 258 appearances (184 starts) and was Cleveland's Opening Day starter for three seasons (2012-14)...Today is his first career appearance against Colorado Springs.

Against the Sky Sox: 2017: 2-5 2016: 9-7 All-time: 96-75 At OKC: 59-32 The Dodgers have lost five of their first seven home games against the Sky Sox this season after going 6-2 in the teams' meetings at The Brick last season. The Sky Sox have already tied their mark for most wins in one season in OKC, set in 2015...Through seven games, the Sky Sox have hit 10 homers and tallied 25 extra-base hits. They're currently outscoring the Dodgers, 38-25...The Dodgers closed out the 2016 series between the teams winning the final three meetings and went on to win the season series, 9-7. Last season's series was streaky as the Dodgers won six of the first eight meetings before the Sky Sox won five in a row and then the Dodgers wrapped it up with three straight victories...The Dodgers have won or split the last six season series against the Sky Sox and have not lost a season series since 2010.

Donut Factory: Saturday marked the fourth shutout victory of the season for the Dodgers and first since a 6-0 win against Memphis April 25 in Oklahoma City. Saturday's shutout was also the third time the Dodgers held an opponent to one or no runs in the last four games...Dodgers pitchers have held Colorado Springs scoreless in 15 of the last 16 innings and have allowed just one run and eight hits during that time.

BacK at It: The Dodgers lead the PCL with 519 strikeouts this season and rank second in Triple-A behind Durham (542)...Over the past four games, OKC has 44 strikeouts against two walks...The Dodgers' 124 walks are second-fewest in the PCL, and although Tacoma's 120 walks are best in the league, the Rainiers have pitched 28.1 fewer innings...This season, the Dodgers have an impressive 4.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Better Than O'K: O'Koyea Dickson hit his team-leading 15th homer of the season Saturday and now is tied with Reno's Christian Walker for most home runs in the PCL. Dickson's home run total is also tied for second-most in the Minor Leagues behind Double-A Reading's Scott Kingery (17)...Dickson ended a four-game hitless streak Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a homer, double, two RBI and two runs scored. He leads the Dodgers with 11 doubles, 38 RBI and 34 runs scored...Among PCL leaders, Dickson is tied for fourth in extra-base hits (27), seventh in slugging percentage (.572) and tied for ninth in RBI.

The Gift of the Maggi: Last night Drew Maggi reached base all three times he stepped to the plate, collecting a single and two walks. He's now riding a five-game hitting streak, going 9-for-18...Over his last 17 games, Maggi is batting .436 (24x55) with five extra-base hits, eight RBI and 14 runs. Since May 6, Maggi is first the PCL in both batting average and on-base percentage (.529).

Maxed Out: Max Muncy walked in his only plate appearance last night, keeping his current hitting streak at five games. He is 8-for-20 (.400) with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and four runs scored during the stretch...Muncy has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 starts, going 22-for- 57 (.386) with 10 XBH, 15 runs and 13 RBI.

Dinger Details: The Dodgers have homered just once over the past three games, but they still rank second in the PCL with 67 home runs this season (Nashville - 69)...Twelve of the team's last 19 homers have come with at least one runner on base after just seven of the first 48 homers were hit with at least one runner on.

It's a Mad, Mad World: Madison Younginer's 7.27 baserunners per nine innings are second-lowest among PCL relievers, while his .169 opponent average ranks third-lowest and his 11.08 strikeouts per nine innings rank fifth...On Friday night, Younginer pitched his seventh scoreless outing over his last eight games. During that time, Younginer has allowed two runs and nine hits over 16.0 IP with four walks and 14 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .170 average (9x53).

Short Hops: The Dodgers are 5-5 in series finales this season, including 3-1 in Bricktown...Scott Van Slyke doubled twice Saturday night and has now hit safely in his last four starts, going 5-for-13 with six runs scored...OKC has a 9-4 record in day games and is 5-2 on Sundays overall. Today's Starting Pitcher Justin Masterson (4-2, 2.98) Bats/Throws: Right/Right Height/Weight: 6-6/260 Born: 3/22/1985 in Kingston, Jamaica | Resides: Indianapolis, Ind. Acquired by Dodgers: Signed as a free agent, March 27, 2017 Last Game: Charged with the loss Sunday in New Orleans, marking his first loss in seven starts...made shortest start of the season, lasting 3.2 innings...allowed five runs (three earned) and three hits, with three walks and three strikeouts...started off with three scoreless and hitless innings before stumbling in the fourth inning...after retiring the first batter of the fourth, issued back-to-back walks before David Vidal connected on a three-run homer...following the homer there were two more hits, an error and a wild pitch, resulting in two more runs...left the game after giving up a RBI single to Brandon Barnes and ended up throwing 38 pitches in the inning...Baby Cakes went 2-for-9 with runners on and 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position...threw 86 pitches (56 strikes).

Against Colorado Springs: Today marks his first career meeting against the Sky Sox.

2017: - Currently third in the PCL with a 2.98 ERA and .194 opponent average...tied for third with a 1.09 WHIP...ranks seventh with 55 strikeouts.

- Righties batting just .163...opponents overall batting .204 with runners in scoring position (11x54); however, opponents are 6-for-18 the last two starts. - Entering today, the Dodgers have won four of his last five starts and five of the last seven (6-3 overall). - Allowed one or no runs in four of nine starts this season and two or fewer runs in six of nine starts...opponents batting .191 (30x157) over last seven starts.

- Surrendered a home run in four consecutive starts...did not allow a homer over first five starts and six overall outings. - Dealt 7.0 strong innings and earned the win as OKC defeated Fresno, 5-2, on May 12...tied his season high in innings and allowed just two runs and three hits, with two walks and six strikeouts...

after walking the second batter of the game, proceeded to retire nine straight hitters and 14 of the next 15...gave up a solo home run to Derek Fisher leading off the fourth inning; first HR allowed this season...left a runner stranded at third base in both the ffith and seventh innings...worked around a leadoff double in the seventh...held Fresno 0-for-9 with runners on base and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position...completed an inning with 10 or fewer pitches three times...threw 98 pitches (58 strikes).

- Delivered 5.2 scoreless innings in a no decision May 6 night in Round Rock...scattered six hits, with two walks and six strikeouts...marked third straight start allowing one or no runs, and fourth in five starts...had at least one baserunner in five of six frames, but held the Express 2-for-10 with runners on base and 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position...stranded five runners in scoring position, including three at third base...left the game with a 1-0 lead, but the Express evened the score in the seventh...threw 92 pitches (56 strikes).

- Turned in 7.0 scoreless innings at home against Memphis on April 24, combining with Steve Geltz on a two-hit shutout in OKC's 3-0 win...allowed just one hit, with one walk and five strikeouts...

overall, retired 21 of 24 batters faced (hit, walk, error)...was longest scoreless outing since Aug. 13, 2014 at Miami while pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals (7.0 IP)...fewest hits allowed in a start of at least 7.0 innings since July 21, 2013 against the Minnesota Twins while pitching for Cleveland (7.0 IP)...gave up a one-out double to Chad Huffman in the first inning, but did not allow a hit thereafter...

following Huffman's double, retired 10 straight batters and 17 of the next 18 Redbirds, with the only man not retired reaching on an error...walked Tommy Pham to lead off the seventh, but retired the next three batters to finish his outing...held Memphis 0-for-6 with runners on base and 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position...retired the side on 10 or fewer pitches three times; never threw more than 15 pitches in an inning...threw 81 pitches (60 strikes)...only three-ball count of the game was during Pham's walk. - Made first start of the season April 13 in Nashville and earned the win after turning in 5.0 scoreless innings...allowed just two singles and one walk with five strikeouts...did not have a runner reach scoring position...retired the final 10 batters faced...held Nashville 2-for-16 overall and 0-for-4 with runners on base...threw 69 pitches (45 strikes).

- Signed with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent on March 27.

2016: - Signed with Pittsburgh on April 15 and spent a majority of the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, going 2-2 with a 4.97 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 25 appearances (5 starts).

- Went 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 20 relief appearances (34.1 IP)...in five starts, went 0-2 with a 7.65 ERA with 15 strikeouts.

- Allowed three home runs over 54.1 IP, but all occurred within the same start on June 21 at Gwinnett...did not allow a run home run in 24 remaining appearances, totaling 49.2 IP. - Induced 11 ground ball double plays.

Career: - Enters his 12th professional season after spending time with the Boston (2006-09, 2015), Cleveland (2009-14), St. Louis (2014) and Pittsburgh (2016) organizations.

- In eight Major League seasons, has a 64-74 record with a 4.31 ERA and 1,004 strikeouts in 258 appearances (184 starts)...is 5-4 with a 3.17 ERA with 108 strikeouts against 35 walks in 74 relief appearances.

- Spent the entire 2015 season with the Boston Red Sox, posting a 5.61 ERA with 49 strikeouts against 27 walks in 18 appearances (nine starts)...missed over a month of the season due to right shoulder tendinitis...had a 6.37 ERA leading up to the injury, but a 4.50 ERA after his return...designated for assignment Aug. 10 and released Aug. 19...underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery following the season. - Named Cleveland's Opening Day starter for three consecutive seasons (2012-14).

- Made his first All-Star team in 2013 with Cleveland after going 10-7 with a 3.72 ERA with 137 strikeouts before the All-Star Break...finished the season going 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA with 195 strikeouts against 76 walks and limited opposing batters to a .222 average in 32 games (29 starts) and three complete games.

- Traded from Boston to Cleveland on July 31, 2009 along with Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price in exchange for Victor Martinez. - Made his ML debut April 24, 2008 for the Boston Red Sox vs. the Los Angeles Angels in a spot start...picked up his first career win May 20, 2008 vs. Kansas City.

- Is the first Jamaican-born pitcher in Major League History...at the time of his birth, his father was the Dean of Students at the Jamaica Theological Seminary...primarily grew up in the midwest and attended high school in Beavercreek, Ohio.

- Selected by Boston in the second round of the 2006 Draft out of San Diego State University...began his collegiate career at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind.

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