Dodgers Drop Opener in El Paso, 6-4

El Paso - 6

OKC Dodgers - 4

Thursday, May 27, 2021 – Southwest University Park – El Paso, Texas

Game Summary: The El Paso Chihuahuas (9-9) used a key four-run fourth inning to take the lead and then responded with two go-ahead runs after the OKC Dodgers (5-14) tied the game in the eighth inning and went on to win, 6-4, Thursday night at Southwest University Park. Elliot Soto opened the scoring with a two-run double in the fourth inning. Dodgers starting pitcher Mike Kickham was sharp and had not allowed a run until he left the game due to an apparent finger injury in the fifth inning. The Chihuahuas rallied against the OKC bullpen in the frame, scoring four runs to take the lead. Rangel Ravelo delivered a game-tying, two-run double in the top of the eighth inning even up the score at 4-4. However, El Paso’s Nick Tanielu homered on the second pitch on the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Chihuahuas later added a run on a throwing error by Dodgers catcher Hamlet Marte.

Of Note:

-Cody Bellinger played in the fifth game of his rehab assignment and played the entire game. He started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Bellinger stepped to the plate representing the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning and hit a sharp line drive that was caught in shallow right field by El Paso second baseman Ivan Castilo playing in a shift. Through five games, Bellinger is now 4-for-20 with two homers and three RBI.

-Zach McKinstry also played the entirety of the game for the first time during his rehab assignment and went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Through five games with OKC, McKinstry is 5-for-16 with two doubles, three walks and five runs scored.

-Rangel Ravelo led the Dodgers with two hits and two RBI. He continues to lead the team with 23 hits, 15 RBI and seven doubles. Over his last four games, Ravelo is 9-for-13 with four extra-base hits and six RBI.

-Dodgers starting pitcher Mike Kickham was having his best outing of the season until he left the game in the with two outs in the fifth inning due to an apparent finger injury. The lefty allowed three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless innings.

-After Kickham left the game with the bases empty and two outs in the fifth inning, the Chihuahuas rallied for four runs against OKC reliever Yaisel Sierra. After a triple, a walk and a single, Patrick Kivlehan hit a go-ahead three-run homer to left-center field. It marked the ninth time in 19 games this season an opponent scored four or more runs in one inning and at the time snapped a 14-inning scoreless streak for the OKC pitching staff.

-With the loss, the Dodgers dropped to 2-5 on their current road trip, 3-10 on the road overall and 0-4 in series openers.

What’s Next: The Dodgers and Chihuahuas meet next at 8:05 p.m. Central time Friday at Southwest University Park. Pitcher Tony Gonsolin is expected to make his second rehab start. 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.