PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes: May 28, 2015

Published on May 28, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City Dodgers (31-14) vs. Salt Lake Bees (22-24)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Los Angeles Angels

Game #46 of 144/Road #28 of 72 (18-9)

Pitching Probables: OKC-RHP Joe Wieland (4-1, 4.76) vs. SLC-LHP Andrew Heaney (5-0, 3.02)

Thursday, May 28, 2015 | Smith's Ballpark | Salt Lake City, Utah | 1:05 p.m. CT

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

Today's Game: The Oklahoma City Dodgers close out their four-game series and their eight-game road trip at 1:05 p.m. at Smith's Ballpark, trying to win a series in Salt Lake first time since 1999. The Dodgers are 5-2 on the road trip so far.

Last Game: Salt Lake hit a pair of early home runs and scored six runs in the first five innings to lead the way to a 6-2 win over the Dodgers Wednesday night at Smith's Ballpark, marking the end of OKC's five-game winning streak. Both teams traded home runs early on. Kyle Kubitza got it started with a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning, but Andy Wilkins responded with a homer in the top of the second inning to tie the game. On the first pitch of the bottom of the inning, C.J. Cron hit a homer to put the Bees back in front. Roger Kieschnick added a RBI single later in the inning to make it 3-1. The Dodgers got back within one when Buck Britton led off the fourth inning and sent the first pitch over the right field fence for his third homer of the season. The Bees' lead swelled in the fifth when the Salt Lake plated three runs for a 6-2 advantage. After the fifth inning ended, the teams sat through a rain delay for 1 hour and 31 minutes before play resumed. Bees starting pitcher Drew Rucinski (1-4) earned his first win, allowing two runs and three hits over 5.0 innings. Making his Oklahoma City debut, Eric Surkamp took the loss. Over 3.0 innings, Surkamp (0-1) allowed three runs and five hits. He struck out three and walked one.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Joe Wieland (4-1) tries for his fifth win of the season this afternoon...He earned the victory in his last start May 22 in Las Vegas. He allowed three runs and five hits over 5.0 innings in OKC's 6-3 win. He struck out four and walked two, and even picked up his first hit and RBIs of the season with a two-run double...The Dodgers are 6-1 in his starts this season, including wins in each of the last two times he's been on the mound...He enters today with an impressive 29/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 34.0 innings with OKC. He's allowed one or no walks in five of his seven outings, and allowed no more than two walks in any start this season...Wieland made his L.A. Dodgers debut May 6 in Milwaukee. He picked up the loss after allowing six runs and six hits over 4.2 innings, including five runs in the first...Today marks his second career start against Salt Lake. He last faced the Bees Aug. 31, 2014 while with El Paso. During that meeting he tossed 6.1 shutout innings, allowing six hits with one walk and a season-high eight strikeouts to help lead the Chihuahuas to a 4-1 win.

Against the Bees: 2015: 2-1 2014: 2-2 All-time: 41-46 In SLC: 17-26

Oklahoma City is aiming for the team's second-ever series win in the Beehive State, and the first since 1999. With last night's loss, OKC has still never won three consecutive games in the same season in Salt Lake...The teams split their lone series last season, June 9-12 in Bricktown. Only one meeting was decided by fewer than three runs...Due to divisional realignment in the PCL last season, this is OKC's first trip to Salt Lake since 2012. The RedHawks were swept in that series, and the Bees collected two walk-off wins...Oklahoma City has not won any series against Salt Lake since 2009, when they swept the Bees over a four-game set in Bricktown (0-3-2 since).

Simply the Best: At 31-14, the Dodgers own the team's best record through 45 games since joining the PCL in 1998...Despite the loss yesterday, the Dodgers actually added to their lead atop the division since Iowa lost both games of a doubleheader, and now lead by nine games. It's the team's largest first-place lead since Aug. 27 2008 (+9.5)...OKC is one of six teams in the Minors with at least 31 victories. The Low-A Quad Cities River Bandits lead the Minors with 34 wins.

Road Warriors: The Dodgers are a league-best 18-9 in road games this season. They are 11-7 in road games this month, matching their highest road win total in one month since August 2007. The only time OKC has collected more than 11 road wins in one month was May 2003, when they had 14.

Seager's Surge: Through the first three games of the current series, Corey Seager is 7-for-12 with four extra-base hits and four RBI. Entering Monday, Seager had just three extra-base hits over his first 21 games since getting promoted to Triple-A.

Grand Addition: Through the first two games of his rehab assignment, Yasmani Grandal is 1-for-6 with three walks and three runs scored. Grandal was placed on the 7-Day Concussion DL on May 23, after being hit in the head twice while catching on May 22. Grandal is again expected to play with OKC today and serve as the team's designated hitter.

O'Koyea's OK: O'Koyea Dickson has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, batting .358 (19x53) with five multi-hit games and 11 runs scored. This month he leads the team with a .324 average and is tied for the team lead with 13 runs.

Bullish 'Pen: Over the last six games, the Dodgers bullpen has posted a 1.33 ERA (3 ER/20.1 IP) and allowed their opponent to score in just one of 21 innings. During this stretch OKC relievers have allowed 12 hits with seven walks and 18 strikeouts.

By the Buchter: Ryan Buchter tossed another scoreless inning last night, and has now held opponents scoreless in 12 of his 13 appearances. Buchter ranks third among PCL relievers with a .175 opponent average and is second with 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Local Boy: Salt Lake starting pitcher Andrew Heaney was born and raised in Oklahoma City. He attended Putnam City High School before matriculating to Oklahoma State. The only other time he's pitched against Oklahoma City was in his Triple-A debut with the New Orleans Zephyrs on May 22, 2014. He allowed one run and seven hits over 5.0 innings in a no decision.

West Coastin': Today marks the finale of the Dodgers' current eight-game road trip. Their next road trip out west won't be until Aug. 23-30, with stops in Albuquerque and El Paso. The Dodgers are in the middle of 16 consecutive games against Pacific Conference teams, going 5-2 so far. Last season OKC went 20-12 against Pacific Conference foes, including a 9-7 record on the road.

Thursday Tidbits: The Dodgers had a streak of five straight games without an error also end last night...Yesterday was OKC's fifth game this season that included a rain delay. They've now had a total of 10 games either delayed or postponed this year...The team is now over 100 roster transactions this season. Last season, the 100th transaction occurred on June 27.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHERS OPP. PITCHER

Friday, May 29 7:05 p.m. Fresno RHP Zach Lee (5-3, 2.52) LHP Tommy Shirley (3-1, 3.60)

Saturday, May 30 7:05 p.m. Fresno RHP Deck McGuire (1-0, 1.35) RHP Dan Straily (3-3, 4.25)

Sunday, May 31 2:05 p.m. Fresno RHP Scott Baker (3-3, 5.30) RHP Alex White (1-3, 5.73)

Monday, June 1 7:05 p.m. Fresno LHP Eric Surkamp (0-1, 9.00) RHP Asher Wojciechowski (3-0, 4.37)

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