Express Bullpen Collapses in 10-7 Loss to Dodgers

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - The Round Rock Express (30-34) bullpen imploded in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Oklahoma City Dodgers (34-27) scored six runs in the frame to collect a 10-7 walkoff victory. The collapse spoiled what was a go-ahead grand slam off the bat of 3B Will Middlebrooks in the top of the frame.
Express reliever RHP Brady Dragmire (0-4, 5.70) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and a walk while recording just one out in the fateful bottom of the ninth. Oklahoma City reliever RHP Josh Ravin
(3-0, 7.94) picked up the win despite giving up four runs on two hits and two walks in the top of the inning.
Round Rock 2B Drew Robinson recorded his third leadoff home run in the last seven games to give the E-Train an immediate 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. However, Oklahoma City stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the third. RF Trayce Thompson and 3B Max Muncy worked back-to-back walks before C Kyle Farmer and SS Charlie Culberson each notched RBI singles. Rehabbing Los Angeles Dodgers CF Joc Pederson then sent Farmer home with a sacrifice fly.
E-Train starter RHP Clayton Blackburn recovered to retire nine of the next 10 hitters to keep the deficit at 3-1. The Oklahoma native allowed three runs on four hits in five innings of work. Blackburn struck out four while walking four.
Robinson blasted his second home run of the game in the top of the seventh. After CF Drew Stubbs worked a leadoff walk, Robinson stepped to the plate and lined a shot over the left field fence to reset the score at 3-3. The feat marked Robinson's sixth homer in the last seven games.
The home side managed to retake the lead in the bottom of the inning. 1B Scott Van Slyke doubled before DH O'Koyea Dickson singled to give the Dodgers a 4-3 edge.
An eventful ninth inning began with Stubbs manufacturing a one-out walk prior to a Robinson single. With two outs in the frame, Ravin elected to intentionally walk 1B Brett Nicholas to load the bases. The decision proved to be costly as Middlebrooks, who was 0-4 with four strikeouts on the night, launched a go-ahead grand slam to put the Express up 7-4.
However, the Round Rock bullpen unraveled in the bottom of the inning. With RHP R.J. Alvarez on to close it out, 2B Drew Maggi and CF Alex Verdugo collected consecutive singles. Prior to enticing Van Slyke into a flyout, Alvarez skipped a wild pitch past C A.J. Jimenez , allowing Maggi to score. After walking Dickson, Dragmire entered to relieve Alvarez. The righty gave up an immediate two-run double, knotting the game at 7-7.
Following a Thompson groundout, Dragmire intentionally walked Muncy, a move that backfired as Farmer connected on a 3-0 pitch for a three-run, walkoff home run. The blast gave Oklahoma City an improbable 10-7 win and completed a series sweep.
After an off-day on Monday, Round Rock heads to New Orleans for a four-game series against the Baby Cakes. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher as of yet. First pitch on Tuesday night at the Shrine on Airline is set for 7:00 p.m.
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