Dodgers Put Up Six in 10th, Win 7-1
Metairie, La. - The Oklahoma City Dodgers emphatically broke a tie in the 10th inning, scoring six times en route to a 7-1 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs Tuesday night at Zephyr Field.
After being held to one run and three hits through nine innings, the Dodgers (72-57) scored six times in the 10th inning, thanks to two big swings. Each of the first three batters reached base to load the bases for Will Venable. Down in the count, 0-2, Venable sent a single through the right side of the infield to plate a pair of runs and make it 3-1.
Jack Murphy walked to load the bases again. Corey Brown came up next, and on the first pitch, hit a line drive that went a couple feet foul down the right field line. He then connected on the next pitch from Chris Reed out to left field for a grand slam. It was the Dodgers' second grand slam of the season, as well as Brown's 21st home run.
Both teams had multiple chances to take the lead in the late innings before the Dodgers eventually broke through. After the Dodgers tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the seventh, the Zephyrs threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. They had runners at second and third base with one out, but Matt West induced a pop out for the second out. After Don Kelly walked to load the bases, West got Cole Figureoa to fly out to center field.
In the top of the eighth, Micah Johnson led off with a double for OKC, but three groundouts followed, as Johnson was stranded at third base. New Orleans put runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but Ralston Cash got Garrett Weber to ground into a forceout at second base to end the inning.
The Dodgers put runners at first and third base with one out in the top of the ninth inning for Alex Hassan. Earlier in the game, Hassan laid down a successful squeeze bunt to get the Dodgers on the board. The Dodgers tried running the same play, but Hassan bunted the ball back to pitcher Nefi Ogando. Ogando threw home, where catcher Tomas Telis tagged Austin Barnes out. Pinch hitter O'Koyea Dickson followed with a strikeout to end the inning.
The Zephyrs (64-65) appeared poised to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Isaac Galloway led off with a double - the only extra-base hit allowed by OKC over the final three games of the series - and J.T. Riddle singled to put runners at the corners with none out. The Zephyrs used pitcher Jake Esch as a pinch hitter, and he popped out on a bunt attempt. Randy Choate struck out Figueroa for the second out, and Casey Fien struck out Austin Nola to send the game to extra innings.
Prior to Tuesday, the Dodgers had lost eight of their nine previous extra-inning games. With the win, they improved to 4-9 in extras this year.
The game was scoreless through three innings, with neither team putting a runner in scoring position. The Zephyrs broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Destin Hood, Matt Juengel, and Telis collected consecutive singles with one out to give New Orleans a 1-0 lead. With runners at second and third and still just one out, Dodgers pitcher Alfredo Figaro struck out Weber and got Galloway to line out and end the inning.
The Dodgers still trailed, 1-0, and had collected just one hit heading to the seventh inning. With one out in the inning, Brown walked and Brandon Hicks followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Hassan then laid down a squeeze bunt along the first base line, scoring Brown and tying the game.
Fien (1-0) retired all four batters he faced between the ninth and 10th innings, with two via strikeout, as he earned his first win with OKC. Zephyrs reliever Drew Steckenrider (0-1) didn't retire any of the five batters he faced in the 10th inning and took the loss.
Making his first start for OKC, Figaro had a strong team debut, allowing one run and five hits over six innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out four.
Second-place Colorado Springs also lost Tuesday, pushing the Dodgers' first-place lead to 8.5 games as well as cutting their magic number to clinch the American Northern Division down to five.
The Dodgers return home Wednesday night to begin a nine-game homestand, as well as a pivotal five-game series against Colorado Springs at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m., and tickets are available by calling (405) 218-1000, through okcdodgers.com, or by visiting the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark box office located on S. Mickey Mantle Drive.
Live coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.