PCL Oklahoma City Comets

Sugar Land Bats Stop Dodgers

August 21, 2021 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


The Sugar Land Skeeters hit five home runs and scored in six of eight trips to the plate to defeat the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 12-7, Friday night at Constellation Field. For the second consecutive night, the Dodgers (48-43) found themselves in a deficit of at least six runs through five innings. The Skeeters (51-40) had each of the first five batters of the second inning reach base, leading to a four-run frame. The Dodgers responded in the third inning with four straight hits with one out, including a two-run double by Zach Reks. An error in the bottom of the inning handed the Skeeters an extra out, and they took advantage when the rehabbing Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer with two outs. The Dodgers trailed, 8-2, entering the sixth inning, but rallied for four runs. Deacon Liput, Hamlet Marte and Aldrich De Jongh each provided run-scoring hits with two outs to get within 8-6. However, the Skeeters answered with home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to make it 10-6. De Jongh provided his second two-out RBI hit of the night in the eighth, but the Skeeters tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Of Note:

-By taking each of the first two games of the series, Sugar Land has pushed its first-place lead over the Dodgers to 3.0 games with four games remaining in the series. The Skeeters have now won six of the last eight meetings between the teams - including four of the last five - after the Dodgers went 9-3 in the first 12 meetings.

-The Skeeters hit five home runs, matching the most allowed by the Dodgers this season and most since May 7 - the second game of the 2021 season. Sugar Land homered four consecutive innings from the fifth through eighth innings. The Skeeters had hit a total of 15 home runs over the first 19 games against the Dodgers.

-Cristian Santana tied for the game high with three hits and went 3-for-5. Santana has now hit safely in his last 19 starts. During the stretch, he is 32-for-79 (.405) with 13 RBI and 11 multi-hit games. He's also hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games overall and is currently on a six-game hitting streak, going 10-for-24.

-One night after going 0-for-5 and being held hitless for just the second time in his last 13 games, Sheldon Neuse bounced back with a three-hit night. He has now hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, going 20-for-58 (.345) with 10 extra-base hits and 11 RBI.

-Playing in his first game above Low-A, Aldrich De Jongh went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. The three RBI were a team high and all came with two outs. Deacon Liput - playing in just his second game above High-A - went 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored, also collecting his first Triple-A hit and RBI.

-Although the Dodgers and Skeeters each finished with 14 hits, Sugar Land collected nine extra-base hits, setting a new opponent high this season. The Dodgers had just two extra-base hits - both doubles.

-Zach Reks laced a two-run double in the third inning. Although he's only played in nine games with OKC this month, he leads the team with 13 RBI in August. He has five RBI in the first two games of the current series.

-Carlos Asuaje reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored.

What's Next: The Dodgers look to rebound when they face the Skeeters at 6:05 p.m. Saturday at Constellation Field. Live radio coverage of each OKC Dodgers game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps. All OKC Dodgers games are also available streamed live on MiLB.TV with a subscription.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 21, 2021


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