Three Homers, Pepiot's Strong Start Lead OKC to 7-2 Road Win

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 7

Sugar Land Space Cowboys – 2

Sunday, May 22, 2022 – Constellation Field – Sugar Land, Texas

Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Dodgers hit three home runs and allowed just three hits paced by five scoreless innings by pitcher Ryan Pepiot in a 7-2 win against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys Sunday afternoon at Constellation Field. The Dodgers’ first three runs of the day came via solo homers as Zach McKinstry led off the game with a homer. Miguel Vargas added a solo homer in the third inning before Stefen Romero hit one in the fourth inning to build a 3-0 lead. The Dodgers (26-16) added three more runs in the fifth inning. After a two-out fielding error by Sugar Land, a walk and back-to-back doubles by Kevin Pillar and Michael Busch extended OKC’s lead to 6-0. As the Dodgers built their lead, Pepiot (3-0) held Sugar Land to one hit and one walk with six strikeouts through the first five innings. After Pepiot exited the game, the Space Cowboys (16-26) scored runs in the seventh and eighth innings with a solo homer by Corey Julks and a sacrifice fly by Alex De Goti, respectively. The Dodgers added a run in the top of the ninth inning via a RBI single by Jake Lamb for a five-run lead as OKC outhit Sugar Land, 9-3.

* Of Note*:

-With Sunday’s victory, the Dodgers won back-to-back games, as well as their three-game road series in Sugar Land, 2-1. The Dodgers have now won four of their last six games and eight of their last 11 games overall, as well as three straight series. They are also 6-2 in their last eight road games.

-The Dodgers’ overall record improved to 26-16 as the team sits a season-best 10 games above .500. It is the most games above .500 for the Dodgers since the last game of the 2018 season when they finished 75-65.

-Starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot made his first start with Oklahoma City following his Major League debut earlier this month. Pepiot improved to 3-0 with OKC this season and the Dodgers improved to 7-0 in his starts. Pepiot pitched 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with six strikeouts. He threw 76 pitches, including 50 for strikes. He retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced and 15 of 17 batters he faced overall.

-Six of Oklahoma City’s nine hits went for extra bases Sunday, including their first six hits of the game. The Dodgers homered three times, marking the team’s ninth game this season with three or more home runs. They also hit three homers for the third time in the last six games and fifth time in the last 11 games…Zach McKinstry’s leadoff homer was the second by the team this season and first since Kevin Pillar led off for OKC with a homer May 6 against Albuquerque in Oklahoma City.

-Stefen Romero went 2-for-4 with a homer and a double Sunday after driving in all three of the Dodgers’ runs Saturday night in Sugar Land. Romero now has 18 RBI in his first 14 games of the season and has reached base safely in all 14 games. Over his last three games, Romero is 7-for-13 with two homers, three doubles and six RBI…Against Sugar Land, Romero is 9-for-22 with seven extra-base hits and 13 RBI over six games.

-Miguel Vargas homered and finished Sunday 2-for-4 with a walk and scored two runs. He paces the Dodgers with 18 multi-hit games this season and has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games (19x54) and in 19 of his last 22 games (33x88). He added to his PCL-leading hit and run totals Sunday and has 42 runs scored and 50 hits total this season.

-After being held without a hit in back-to-back games for just the second time this season, Zach McKinstry went 2-for-4 Sunday with a home run, walk and scored two runs. McKinstry has 44 hits in his 31 games with OKC — second-most among Dodgers players.

-Jake Lamb went 1-for-3 with a RBI, game-high two walks and scored a run. He has now reached base in 20 of his last 21 games, while hitting safely in 17 of those games. His 29 RBI this season are second-most among OKC players.

-Eddy Alvarez’s nine-game hitting streak came to an end as he was held 0-for-4. During the streak, Alvarez batted .529 (18x34) with five doubles, a triple, two homers, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored and seven walks. He had also reached base in 25 of his last 36 plate appearances (16x27, 7 BB, 2 HBP) prior to Sunday.

-Dodgers pitchers matched their season-low mark with three hits allowed. It was the third time this season OKC allowed just three hits and the first time since May 12 in Round Rock. The Dodgers have now allowed two runs in back-to-back games for just the second time this season and the first time since April 29-30 against Sugar Land at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark when they allowed two runs and one run in the games, respectively.

-The seven runs scored by OKC was the team’s highest total since a 13-5 victory May 17 against El Paso at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark when the Dodgers wrapped up a stretch of 11 straight games scoring at least five runs. After that outing, the Dodgers were held to four runs or less in four straight games before Sunday.

What’s Next: Following a day off Monday, the OKC Dodgers open a six-game home series against the Reno Aces at 7:05 p.m. on a $2 Tuesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Tuesday is also the Dodgers’ second annual Bark in the Park presented by Sit Means Sit Dog Training. Fans can bring their dog to the game and the first 300 dogs in attendance will receive a special commemorative dog bandana. The $2 Tuesday features $2 select beer, soda and bottled water from a line of Budweiser and Pepsi products. COOP Ale Works draft beer will also be available for $3.

Tickets are available at okcdodgers.com/tickets. Live radio coverage of each OKC Dodgers game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps. All OKC Dodgers games are also available streamed live on MiLB.TV with a subscription.