Chihuahuas Nip Dodgers, 6-3, Friday

El Paso Chihuahuas – 6

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 3

Friday, July 20, 2023 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored two runs in the ninth inning, but were unable to come back against the El Paso Chihuahuas in a 6-3 loss Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers (11-8/61-31) took the first lead of the game on a solo home run by Miguel Vargas in the fourth inning. El Paso (7-12/39-55) then compiled six straight runs to take a 6-1 lead, including back-to-back RBI singles by Brett Sullivan and Brandon Dixon in the sixth inning and a two-run single by Ben Gamel in the eighth inning for a 6-1 advantage. Oklahoma City loaded the bases in the ninth inning with one out. Drew Avans brought in a run when he hit into a fielder’s choice and Michael Busch followed with a RBI single with two outs before El Paso pitcher Ray Kerr got Miguel Vargas to fly out to end the game.

Of Note:

-The Dodgers have lost three straight games and trail El Paso in the current series, 3-1. The Dodgers have now lost seven of their last nine home games, eight of their last 11 home games and nine of their last 13 games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

-Friday marked the fourth consecutive game the Dodgers allowed six or more runs and El Paso has now scored at least six runs in nine of the 16 meetings between the teams this season.

-Right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard (0-1) continued a rehab assignment Friday night, making his second appearance with OKC. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four runs and six hits with two strikeouts and did not issue a walk as he was charged with the loss. He faced 21 batters and retired 12 straight batters at one point from the first through third innings, throwing 77 total pitches, including 58 strikes. Syndergaard has been on the Los Angeles Dodgers Injured List since June 8 with a right index finger blister and has made 12 starts with the LA Dodgers this season.

-El Paso racked up a team record nine stolen bases against the Dodgers, including five stolen bases by shortstop Tim Lopes, which was also an individual El Paso team record. The total marked the most stolen bases by a Pacific Coast League team since the 2011 season when Fresno had 10 stolen bases against Las Vegas April 10, 2011. In that 2011 game, current OKC Dodgers hitting coach Manny Burriss recorded a stolen base for Fresno and current OKC pitching coach Doug Mathis started the game on the mound for Fresno, which won the game, 8-5…The Chihuahuas’ nine steals Friday were the most stolen bases allowed by the Dodgers in a game since at least 2005 and OKC’s previous high for stolen bases allowed since 2005 was seven on July 25, 2009 against Nashville.

-Miguel Vargas hit his second home run with OKC this season and second homer in three games. He has hit safely in five of his last six games (8x25) with five RBI and seven runs scored.

-The Dodgers have now homered in nine consecutive games (12 HR) — tying their season-long streak June 3-14 (20 HR). OKC has also homered in 15 of the last 17 games (22 HR).

-Drew Avans extended his hitting streak to eight games, going 1-for-5 with a RBI, tying his season-long streak from May 12-21. During the current hitting streak, Avans is 13-for-37 (.351).

-Michael Busch connected on a RBI single in the ninth inning and has now reached base in 17 consecutive games for the longest active on-base streak by an OKC player. During the streak, Busch is 20-for-71 (.282) with 17 RBI.

What’s Next: The Dodgers and Chihuahuas continue their series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The first 1,000 fans through the gates at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will receive a Tony Gonsolin bobblehead presented by Lime. Gates open at 6 p.m. and fireworks presented by Niagara Cares are scheduled to follow the game. Single-game tickets for OKC Dodgers home games are available at okcdodgers.com/tickets. 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. Video broadcasts of all OKC Dodgers home games are now available to be streamed live for free on the Bally Live app.