Dodgers Put Redbirds Behind Eight Ball

Memphis, Tenn. - The Oklahoma City Dodgers exploded for eight runs and seven hits in the 10th inning, sending the Dodgers to a 10-3 victory over the Memphis Redbirds Tuesday afternoon at AutoZone Park.
Playing their first extra innings game since April 18, the Dodgers (28-14) sent 10 batters to the plate and rapped seven hits during the rally, including six straight hits with one out. Although it ended well, the inning actually got off to an inauspicious start. With a runner placed at second base to start the inning and the game tied 2-2, pinch hitter Donovan Solano sent a line drive down the right field line on the very first pitch that was initially ruled a two-run homer. But after further review, the call was overturned and changed to a foul ball.
Solano then reached on a fielding error by Memphis shortstop Alex Mejia, and Jacob Scavuzzo followed with a go-ahead RBI single - the Dodgers' first hit since the first inning. Two batters later, Travis Taijeron hit a RBI double to deep left field to make it 4-2.
Jake Peter stepped up next and sent a two-run single into center field. Breyvic Valera followed with a two-run homer to right field for his fourth home run of the season, giving OKC an 8-2 lead.
After a single by Tim Locastro, the Redbirds made a pitching change, replacing Edward Mujica with Mike O'Reilly. On O'Reilly's first pitch, Kyle Farmer lifted a home run onto the bluff in left field, and his two-run shot plated the seventh and eighth runs of the inning. 
What made the rally peculiar was that the Dodgers had been held hitless over the previous eight innings and had been sitting at two hits for the game entering extras. Following a two-run double by Farmer in the first inning, only two of the next 28 batters reached base, with both via walks.
The Redbirds (27-19) took advantage of the designated runner at second base to start the bottom of the inning, scoring a run on a RBI double by Patrick Wisdom, but it was not nearly enough.
 
The game wouldn't have even gone to the 10th inning had Dodgers reliever Yimi García pitched out of a big jam in the bottom of the ninth. After a single, an error and a sac bunt, the Redbirds had runners at second and third base with one out. Garcia induced a grounder off the bat of pinch hitter Wilfredo Tovar right to a drawn in Valera at third base. Valera fielded the ball and threw home, where Farmer applied the tag on Adolis García for the second out. Oscar Mercado then lined out to center field to end the inning. 
The Dodgers took a quick 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the first inning. After a walk by Valera and single by Alex Verdugo, Farmer sent a grounder down the third base line for a two-run double.
The Redbirds rallied for a run in the second inning after having the bases empty with two outs. Memphis tallied three straight singles, with a couple of bloop hits mixed in. Pitcher Ryan Helsley picked up his first career RBI with a flare to shallow center field to get the Redbirds on the board.
The game stayed put at 2-1 for quite some time. After Farmer's double, Helsley got on quite the roll, retiring the final 20 Dodgers batters he faced. The Tahlequah, Okla. native ended up pitching seven innings, allowing one run and two hits, with one walk and nine strikeouts in a no decision. In addition to his RBI single in the second inning, he also collected a double in the fifth inning.
Still down, 2-1, Memphis pulled even in the seventh inning on a two-out RBI double by Mercado.  
Daniel Corcino made another solid spot start for the Dodgers, allowing one run and six hits over five innings. He issued one walk and struck out two. The bullpen combined to give up one earned run and four hits over the final five innings, with Garcia (1-0) claiming his first win.
Mujica (2-2) was charged with seven of the eight runs in the 10th inning and took the loss.
Tuesday's win snapped OKC's four-game road losing streak as well as a four-game skid in games that started before noon. The Dodgers next play the Redbirds at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at AutoZone Park. Live coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.