Sugar Land Pitching Stifles Dodgers
Published on April 16, 2023 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
The Oklahoma City Dodgers were held to a season-low two hits in a 6-3 loss to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys Sunday afternoon as their three-game winning streak came to an end at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Sugar Land (5-9) took the lead in the fourth inning on a three-run home run by Grae Kessinger. The Dodgers (11-4) were held without a hit until Michael Busch connected on a double in the sixth inning. Ryan Ward later hit a sacrifice fly in the inning for OKC's first run of the day. Sugar Land's Pedro León tacked on a two-run double in the seventh inning and hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning for a 6-1 advantage. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases and Devin Mann drew a bases-loaded walk before Michael Reed brought in another run when he hit into a fielder's choice, cutting Sugar Land's lead to three runs.
Of Note:
-The Dodgers fell to 11-4 with Sunday's loss, ending a three-game winning streak. OKC entered the game with the best record in all of Triple-A and had been tied for the second-best start for an OKC team during the Bricktown era (since 1998) as only the 2018 Dodgers had a better record through 14 games (12-2).
-Michael Busch hit a double as he finished with the Dodgers' lone extra-base hit of the game. He has now reached base in each of OKC's first 15 games of the season, tying Salt Lake's Jo Adell for the longest on-base streak to start 2023. Busch has hit safely in 13 of his first 15 games and has at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .357 (15x42) with six extra-base hits and eight RBI.
-The Dodgers were held to a season-low two hits and to their lowest hit total overall since a 6-0 shutout loss to the Space Cowboys on July 30, 2022, also at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Sunday's finale marked the third time during the six-game series between the teams that OKC tallied four hits or less...OKC's three runs Sunday were the fewest for the team since a 7-3 loss to the Space Cowboys Wednesday afternoon.
-The Dodgers won the six-game series with the Space Cowboys, 4-2, and have now won each of their first three series of the 2023 season. However, with Sunday's loss, the Dodgers lost two games within the same series for the first time this season.
-Sunday marked the 11th game this season in which OKC's opponent scored first and the Dodgers fell to 7-4 in those games.
-The Dodgers drew seven more walks Sunday as they tallied at least seven walks for the fifth time in the series and finished the six-game set with 48 total walks.
What's Next: Following a day off Monday, the OKC Dodgers open a six-game road series against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park at 7:35 p.m. CT Tuesday. 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.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 16, 2023
- France Dominates, Offense Provides Support in 6-3 Win over Dodgers - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- 21 Hits, 9 Doubles Highlight 17-9 River Cats Victory - Sacramento River Cats
- Aces Slug Four Homers in Series Finale Loss to River Cats, 17-9 - Reno Aces
- Bees Fall to Aviators 7-5 - Salt Lake Bees
- Aviators Win After 9th Inning Rally - Salt Lake Bees
- Sugar Land Pitching Stifles Dodgers - Oklahoma City Comets
- Tatis Homers, but Day belongs to Albuquerque - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Round Rock Takes Series with 5-4 Win over Tacoma - Round Rock Express
- Albuquerque Wins Series After 10-3 Victory over El Paso - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Express outlast Rainiers by a run, take series - Tacoma Rainiers
- Tacoma Rainiers Game Notes: at Round Rock (11:05 a.m. PT) - Tacoma Rainiers
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - April 16, 2023 - Oklahoma City Comets
- El Paso Downs Albuquerque - El Paso Chihuahuas
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
