OKC Hangs On for 5-4 Win in Series Finale

Oklahoma City Baseball Club – 5

Sacramento River Cats – 4

Sunday, April 21, 2024 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: All five runs scored by the Oklahoma City Baseball Club came in the first two innings Sunday afternoon and then Oklahoma City hung on for a 5-4 win against the Sacramento River Cats at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. OKC (12-9) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the series finale between the teams. Two runs scored when Trey Sweeney lined a single into center field that was coupled with a Sacramento fielding error. Later in the inning, Ryan Ward connected on a RBI groundout for a 3-0 lead. Drew Avans knocked a two-RBI single into center field in the second inning for a 5-0 OKC advantage. A RBI single in the fourth inning got Sacramento (14-7) on the scoreboard. Then the River Cats added three more runs in the eighth inning to cut OKC’s lead to one run. After a RBI single, the River Cats went on to load the bases with no outs and brought in two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a RBI single by Donovan Walton. Oklahoma City pitcher Kevin Gowdy retired all three batters he faced in the top of the ninth inning to seal the win and record his fourth save of the season.

Of Note:

-Oklahoma City snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, ending its longest stretch of losses this season overall as well as at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2024… Sacramento won the six-game series, 4-2, for OKC’s first home series loss of 2024. Last season, OKC did not lose a home series until June 13-18 against Salt Lake.

-Oklahoma City recorded the first runs of the game in the first inning, marking the first time in the six-game series OKC scored first. OKC’s quick lead Sunday also was just the second time in the series against Sacramento that OKC held a lead, with the other time being in OKC’s 4-3 victory Wednesday.

-The one-run game was the fifth in the series to be decided by two runs or less and also was the 15th game for OKC overall this season to be decided by one or two runs. At Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark this season, 10 of OKC’s first 12 games have been decided by two runs or less and OKC is now 6-4 in those games.

-Jonathan Araúz went 2-for-4 with a double and scored a run. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games and he is 13-for-44 during the stretch with five doubles and a home run. His hitting streak is the longest in the PCL to start the season.

-Drew Avans went 3-for-5 with two RBI, scored a run and recorded two stolen bases. It was his second three-hit game of the season, while his two stolen bases and two RBI were season highs…Avans moved into a tie for second place on OKC’s all-time career leaders list for stolen bases during the Bricktown era (since 1998) as he now has 87. He also moved into sole possession of seventh place on OKC’s career hits list with 339 total hits.

-Trey Sweeney went 1-for-4 with a RBI and scored a run and has now reached base safely in each of his first 20 Triple-A games. He owns the longest on-base streak in the PCL to start the season.

Next Up: Oklahoma City travels to Albuquerque for a six-game road series against the Isotopes starting at 7:35 p.m. CT Tuesday at Isotopes Park. Live radio coverage of each OKC Baseball Club game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps.