Jones delivers back-to-back walk-offs for OKC
There are few things in baseball more exciting than a walk-off. Just ask Jahmai Jones, who called game not once, but twice in a row for Oklahoma City to begin his 2023 season. After dropping the first game of the season, 14-8, the Triple-A Dodgers were looking for some course
There are few things in baseball more exciting than a walk-off. Just ask
After dropping the first game of the season, 14-8, the Triple-A Dodgers were looking for some course correction. Enter Jones, who sent the Oklahoma City fans home happy Sunday by cranking a solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 10-9 victory, a day after knocking in the decisive run in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rainiers.
Saturday’s bout against Tacoma was a back-and-forth affair, with seven ties or lead changes before the fateful 10th inning. Jones had already walked, scored a run and collected a single by the time he came to the plate with runners on second and third with two outs in the 10th, and it took him just two pitches against righty Riley O'Brien to garner the victory for Oklahoma City.
Jahmai Jones says thanks for playing!
— Oklahoma City Dodgers (@okc_dodgers) April 2, 2023
Just like last year, the squad gets its first win of the season in walk-off fashion! pic.twitter.com/oIoLlULF9S
Well, Jones thought it was so nice, he’d do it twice.
Sunday’s contest was just as much of a seesaw battle, and Jones was right in the middle of it. The 25-year-old racked up two more singles, including a leadoff knock in the eighth that kick-started a four-run frame that tied the game, 9-9, before he stepped into the box with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth.
With nobody on base to drive in, Jones did all the work himself.
He once again took a first-pitch ball before connecting on the next offering from lefty Blake Weiman. This time, he swatted a hanging breaking ball over the left-field wall and met a mob of teammates at home plate to celebrate his second straight walk-off knock.
JAHMAI JONES IS THE WALK-OFF KING!
— Oklahoma City Dodgers (@okc_dodgers) April 2, 2023
He ends the game for a second straight day, this time with a bomb to left field!
Dodgers win, 10-9! pic.twitter.com/mAr4w1O7Fl
The second baseman is riding a hot bat to begin his eighth Minor League season, with five hits and two RBIs in nine at-bats. Jones is not a power hitter, with his career-high homer mark of 14 coming in 2017, and he only lofted two in 27 games last season between injuries and roster moves.
That puts him halfway to his 2022 total -- and makes him a two-time hero of the game -- just three outings into the season. The Dodgers can't ask for much more than that.
Stephanie Sheehan is an contributor for MiLB.com.