PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - May 14, 2016

Published on May 14, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Las Vegas 51s (18-16) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (20-13)

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game #34 of 144/Home #12 of 73 (5-6)

Pitching Probables: LAS-RHP Rafael Montero (2-1, 4.94) vs. OKC-LHP Julio Urias (3-1, 1.50)

Saturday, May 14, 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 open a four-game series against the Las Vegas 51s at 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers look to extend their winning streak to a season-best five games as they begin a stretch of 16 straight games against Pacific Conference opponents. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive an OKC Dodgers hat, and tonight is also Devon Energy Hometown Heroes Military Celebration Night.

Last Game: The Dodgers scored nine runs through the first three innings Friday on their way to an 11-7 win - and a series sweep - against Round Rock at Dell Diamond. Each of the first four batters of the game collected hits, resulting in an instant 3-0 lead. The Dodgers scored six more runs in the third inning to build a 9-0 lead. The big hits during the rally were a Jose Tabata two-run double and a bases-clearing double by Micah Johnson. Round Rock tightened things up with five unanswered runs, including two-run homers by Ike Davis and Jurickson Profar. OKC answered in the top of the sixth, as an errant pickoff throw scored one run and set the table for Corey Brown to pick up an RBI single and make it 11-5. The Express cut into the Dodgers lead again in the eighth when Davis hit a RBI single and Drew Robinson grounded out to bring home a run, but the Express got no closer. OKC starting pitcher Sam LeCure (2-1) allowed five runs on seven hits over a season-high six innings in his second win in as many starts. He walked one and had five strikeouts. Express starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-4) exited the game after 2.2 innings after allowing a career-high nine runs and 10 hits.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Julio Urias (3-1) looks to continue his recent roll...Entering tonight, Urias has a streak of 16 consecutive scoreless innings, during which he's allowed just seven hits with four walks and 14 strikeouts...In his last start Monday in Colorado Springs, Urias held the Sky Sox scoreless over six innings, allowing four hits, three walks and striking out four in a no decision...The 19-year-old's 1.50 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .176 average all currently pace the PCL, and his 10.00 strikeouts per nine inning are fourth-best among starting pitchers...His WHIP is tied for eighth-best overall in the Minors...Through his first 30.0 IP, Urias has notched 33 strikeouts against six walks, good for a 5.55 strikeout-to-walk ratio...Leadoff batters are just 3-for-27, and Urias had held opponents 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position...In his previous start at home on May 4 against New Orleans, Urias fired six no-hit innings and faced the minimum, as he combined with relievers Lisalverto Bonilla and Chin-Hui Tsao on a one-hit shutout...Urias spent the majority of the 2015 season with Double-A Tulsa, but missed almost two months of the season due to elective cosmetic surgery on his left eye in late May. He made 13 starts with the Drillers, going 3-4 with a 2.77 ERA. He recorded 74 strikeouts against 15 walks over 68.1 innings...Today marks his first career appearance against the 51s.

Against the 51s: 2016: 0-0 2015: 3-1 All-time: 42-45 In OKC: 20-19

This marks the lone series of the season between the squads and the first visit by the 51s to Bricktown since June 13-16, 2014...The Dodgers closed out their 2015 series with three straight wins, giving OKC its first series win at Cashman Field since 2005...Oklahoma City has won two straight series against the 51s for the first time since doing so in the 2005 and 2006 seasons...The Dodgers batted .257 in the 2015 series and finished the set by pitching the team's first ever shutout in Las Vegas during a 2-0 win on May 24...Each team had four home runs apiece...Current Las Vegas infielder Marc Krauss spent parts of the 2012-14 seasons playing for the Oklahoma City RedHawks.

Sweepstakes: The Dodgers completed their first series sweep of the season Friday in Round Rock, and also collected their first-ever series sweep at Dell Diamond since the Express joined the PCL in 2005. Oklahoma City also sent the Express to their first four-game sweep at Dell Diamond since May 17-20, 2012 against Fresno...The Dodgers have now won four straight games for the second time this season, previously accomplished April 9-12.

Beefy Bats: The Dodgers tied their season high with 14 hits last night (previously April 24 at Iowa), as five players finished with multi-hit games. Micah Johnson set personal season highs with both three hits and three RBI...OKC has scored at least five runs in three consecutive games for the second time this season (five straight, April 21-25)...During the team's four-game winning streak, the Dodgers are batting .364 with runners in scoring position (16x44), including a 7-for-14 mark last night.

First Impressions: The Dodgers have scored first in 10 consecutive games (8-2). This season they have scored first in 24 of their 33 games, most in the PCL (19-5)...Last night the Dodgers scored nine of their 11 runs in the first three innings. This season, the team has scored 50.3% of its run total within the first three innings (74/147).

Call to Arms: After a run of eight consecutive games holding their opponent to three or fewer runs, April 29-May 8, the Dodgers have surrendered 24 runs over the past five games combined, with at least four runs allowed four times. For the first time this season, the Dodgers have allowed 10 or more hits in three consecutive games, as the Express batted .309 (34x110) over the final three games in Round Rock and went 9-for-31 with runners in scoring position...Even with the recent bump, OKC has still allowed the fewest runs (120) and fewest hits (262) in the PCL this season, and the Dodgers' 3.34 ERA ranks second in the league.

Double Duty: OKC turned another double play Friday and has turned 15 double plays over the past nine games, and 10 double plays over the last five games...The Dodgers have 38 total double plays through 33 games this season - tied with Reno for the league lead.

Not Digging the Longball: The Dodgers have allowed a home run in a season-high five straight games (six HR total). Despite strong numbers by the pitching staff, OKC has surrendered the sixth-most homers in the PCL (27), accounting for 35.8% of runs allowed.

Short Hops: Today Elian Herrera was reinstated from the temporary inactive list and released in order to pursue an opportunity to play in Japan. Herrera batted .218 with 10 RBI over 28 games this season...The Dodgers have thrown out six of the last 10 attempted base stealers. Prior to this recent stretch, the Dodgers had only nabbed five of the first 32 attempted base stealers...Today begins a stretch of 16 straight games against Pacific Conference opponents. Last season the Dodgers were 17-15 against foes from the other side of the league, but went just 7-9 at home...The Dodgers have trailed in just two of the last 54 innings.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER

Sunday, May 15 2:05 p.m. Las Vegas RHP Zach Lee (5-1, 4.09) RHP Seth Lugo (3-2, 7.20)

Monday, May 16 7:05 p.m. Las Vegas RHP Jeremy Kehrt (2-2, 3.16) LHP Duane Below (1-3, 5.22)

Tuesday, May 17 11:05 a.m. Las Vegas RHP Mike Bolsinger (0-0, 2.25) RHP Gabriel Ynoa (4-0, 1.77)

Wednesday, May 18 OFF

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 14, 2016


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