Dodgers Fall to Express, 3-1

Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored a late run to avoid a shutout, but the Round Rock Express hung on to defeat the Dodgers, 3-1, Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
With the loss, the Dodgers fell to 2-11 in their last 13 games and have now lost nine straight home games for the first time since dropping a team-record nine in a row June 15-27, 2005.

Round Rock (42-45) leads the series, 3-0, and has won three consecutive games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for the first time since 2014 when the Express won four games in a row in Oklahoma City.
The Express took an early lead for the third straight game in front of a sellout crowd of 9,809.
Drew Robinson led off the game with a triple then scored on a one-out RBI single by Scott Heineman for a 1-0 Round Rock lead in the first inning. Andy Ibáñez's sacrifice fly boosted the Express lead to 2-0 later in the inning.
The Express extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning on a bloop RBI single into right field by Andy Ibanez.
The Dodgers (45-38) were held scoreless through seven innings, but broke through the shutout in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Travis Taijeron led off with a walk and advanced to third base on Henry Ramos' single. Angelo Mora followed, hitting a grounder toward first base. Express first baseman Hanser Alberto secured the out at first base then helped catch Taijeron in a rundown between third base and home for the second out of the inning.
Connor Joe followed and hit a deep fly ball to center field to score Ramos on a RBI triple to cut the Express lead to 3-1.
Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart (1-1) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over 4.0 innings. He issued two walks and recorded four strikeouts.
Express starting pitcher Michael Roth (5-4) picked up the win, tossing 6.0 shutout innings and holding Oklahoma City to three hits. He issued one walk and had four strikeouts.
Round Rock reliever R.J. Alvarez retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the ninth inning for his 18th save of the season.
Saturday is Oklahoma City 89ers Night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Dodgers players and coaches will wear special 89ers jerseys and hats throughout the 7:05 p.m. game. Their game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off during the game via a silent auction to benefit the OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation.
  
Retro-inspired 89ers merchandise will be available for purchase in the OKC Dodgers Team Store, including a limited number of the same 89ers hats the team will wear on the field.
 
Gates open at 6 p.m. Saturday, and the first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a complimentary Dodgers floor mat.
Cox Communications will televise the game live on YurView on Cox (Channel 1333) beginning five minutes before first pitch.
Live radio coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.
Tickets are available through the OKC Dodgers ticket office located on South Mickey Mantle Drive, by phone at (405) 218-2182, or by visiting okcdodgers.com.