OKC Dodgers Game Notes - September 2, 2016
September 2, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma City Dodgers (77-60) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (58-78)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Kansas City Royals
Game #138 of 141/Road #67 of 70 (38-28)
Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Jose De Leon (7-1, 2.61) vs. OMA-RHP Alec Mills (4-3, 4.67)
Friday, September 2, 2016 | Werner Park | Papillion, Neb. | 7:05 p.m. CT Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman
Today's Game: The American Northern Division champion Oklahoma City Dodgers open their final series of the regular season at 7:05 p.m. against the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park. The Dodgers seek a third straight win and sixth win over the last seven games.
Last Game: The Dodgers won their regular-season home finale against Memphis, 5-3, Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Dodgers starting pitcher Logan Bawcom threw six scoreless frames and hit a two-run single to give the Dodgers their first lead of the night. With two outs in the second inning, three straight OKC batters reached base to load the bases for Bawcom, who lined a two-run single to center field. Micah Johnson followed with a RBI single to bring home another Dodgers run for a 3-0 advantage. A RBI single by Alex Hassan in the sixth inning put the Dodgers in front, 4-0. Memphis then got on the board in the seventh inning on a RBI double by Patrick Wisdom. The Redbirds added another run in the inning on a two-out infield single by Carson Kelly to cut the Dodgers' lead to 4-2. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning and Hassan collected another a RBI single to extend OKC's lead to 5-2. Memphis' Jose Martinez hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning to cut OKC's lead to 5-3, but that would account for the final run of the night. Bawcom (6-5) allowed four hits, with two walks and six strikeouts in the win. Dodgers reliever Sam LeCure earned his second save. Memphis starting pitcher Mike Mayers (4-8) was charged with the loss.
Today's Probable Pitcher: Reigning PCL Pitcher of the Week Jose De Leon (7-1) looks to continue his dominance on the mound...Over his last two starts, De Leon has thrown 14.2 scoreless innings while allowing five hits, with no walks and 23 strikeouts...On Sunday against Colorado Springs, De Leon racked up a season-high 13 strikeouts - the second-most by an OKC pitcher in a single game since the team joined the PCL in 1998 (Chuck Smith, 14 strikeouts, June 23, 1999 in Memphis)...The performance was De Leon's third consecutive start with at least 10 strikeouts and no walks, and during that time he has 33 strikeouts and no walks over 21.2 innings. He is the first OKC pitcher during the team's PCL era to record five double-digit strikeout games in a season. Entering 2016, no pitcher had ever recorded more than three double-digit strikeout games in one season, and even that had only been done twice...Over his last six starts, De Leon has a 1.30 ERA and a .159 opponent average. He has lasted at least 7.0 innings in five of those starts...Through 16 starts, De Leon has held opponents to a .194 average, including .178 with runners in scoring position. Right-handed batters are hitting .183 overall...He owns a 5.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio (111 K/20 BB) and averages 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings...Since coming off the DL June 7, De Leon ranks first in the PCL in opponent average (.198), first in strikeouts (102), and tied for first in WHIP (0.96)...De Leon was selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2013 Draft from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La...Tonight marks his first career appearance against Omaha.
Against the Storm Chasers: 2016: 7-3 2015: 6-10 All-time: 138-128 In OMA: 66-65
This marks the final regular-season series of the season for both teams...The Dodgers took three of four each time teams met in OKC this season...Rain washed away the final two meetings of a four-game series at Omaha, April 28-May 1. Before the inclement weather struck, the Dodgers and Storm Chasers won one game each...The Dodgers have won seven of the last nine meetings after Omaha won 10 of the previous 11 going back to 2015...The Dodgers have outscored Omaha, 61-52, this season...Omaha is 4-0-1 in the season series over the past five years and is 15-10 against OKC at Werner Park over the last three seasons.
We Ain't Done Yet: The Dodgers have clinched back-to-back American Northern Division titles, as well as their third division title in the last four seasons. OKC last won consecutive division titles in 2004 and 2005, and this season's title marks the team's ninth division crown since joining the PCL in 1998. OKC will meet the American Southern Division champion Nashville Sounds in a best-of-five series beginning Wednesday, Sept. 7 in Oklahoma City. The Dodgers will host the first two games of the series Sept. 7-8 before the series shifts to Nashville for the final three games.
O'Koyea's O'K: O'Koyea Dickson collected his fourth straight multi-hit game Thursday and has hit safely in six straight games. He is 11-for-21 (.524) over the six-game stretch with two doubles, two homers, five RBI, and four runs scored...Since Aug. 1, Dickson has led the Dodgers with 35 hits, 23 runs, 19 RBI, and six home runs...Since coming off the Disabled List May 22, Dickson is batting .332 (100x301) with 16 homers and 57 RBI (93 games). During that time, he ranks tied for second in the PCL in extra-base hits (44), tied for third in doubles (26), sixth in batting average, and seventh in on-base percentage (.402).
Kings of K's?: The Dodgers pitching staff added nine more strikeouts to their league-leading total Thursday and now pace the PCL with 1,211 strikeouts this season. They surpassed the previous team record of 1,114 strikeouts set last season. Their total is 28 strikeouts ahead of second-place Fresno, who has played three more games than OKC...The Dodgers currently sit 26 strikeouts away from breaking the PCL modern era record of 1,236 K's, set by the Nashville Sounds in 2014. OKC will need to average 6.5 strikeouts per game over their final four games to set the new mark.
RISPy Business: The Dodgers went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position last night and have now gone 13-for-37 (.351) with runners in scoring position over the last five games...Meanwhile, the pitching staff held Memphis 1-for-7 with RISP last night and 1-for-15 over the final two games of the series. The Dodgers have held their opponent to one or no hits with RISP in six of the last seven games.
Straight Cash, Homey: On Tuesday, Ralston Cash picked up his fourth win in 15 appearances since joining OKC, including his second in as many outings. Cash has allowed one run and six hits with 17 strikeouts over 15.1 IP during his last 10 appearances. He's held opponents 6-for-49 (.122).
And Another One...: Last night Tyler Ogle became the 68th different player to suit up for the OKC Dodgers this season, not including players on Major League Rehab Assignment (27 position players and 41 pitchers). Including rehabbers, the total bumps up to 77...Through yesterday, the Dodgers have had 265 roster transactions this season.
First Impressions: The Dodgers have lost six of seven series openers. They are 19-16 overall in series openers, including 9-8 on the road.
Pacific Coast League Stories from September 2, 2016
- OKC 8, Omaha 5 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Reno Aces at Tacoma - Reno Aces
- Nashville Sounds (83-57) at New Orleans Zephyrs (63-75) - Nashville Sounds
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - September 2, 2016 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Nashville's Scarsone Honored as Manager of the Year - PCL1
- Steve Scarsone Named PCL Manager of the Year - Nashville Sounds
- Storm Chasers Approaching 14 Millionth Fan In Franchise History - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Storm Chasers Series Highlights September 2-5 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Tacoma Wins in Extras - Fresno Grizzlies
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