Ruiz Homers Twice in OKC's 9-1 Win

OKC Dodgers - 9

EL Paso - 1

Friday, June 11, 2021 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: Keibert Ruiz homered in the second and sixth innings as the Oklahoma City Dodgers defeated the El Paso Chihuahuas, 9-1, Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers won a third straight game after taking a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning with a bases-loaded walk by Andy Burns and a bases-clearing double by Matt Davidson. Ruiz pushed the Dodgers’ lead to 5-0 with a solo homer in the second inning. With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Elliot Soto hit a sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead. The Dodgers (15-17) tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning with a two-run homer by Ruiz and a RBI double by Burns. Oklahoma City held El Paso scoreless through six innings before the Chihuahuas (13-18) broke through the shutout with a RBI single by Tucupita Marcano in the seventh inning.

Of Note:

-Dodgers top prospect Keibert Ruiz hit two home runs Friday night as he also homered for a second straight game — belting a solo homer in the second inning into the El Paso bullpen in right field and launching a two-run homer onto the elevated Skyline Deck in right field in the sixth inning. Friday marked the catcher’s second multi-homer game of the season and the fifth multi-homer game of his career. Ruiz also hit two homers May 21 at Albuquerque this season. Fifteen of Ruiz’s first 21 hits of 2021 with the OKC Dodgers have gone for extra bases.

-Andy Burns reached base four times Friday, hitting two doubles, drawing two walks, recording two RBI and scoring two runs as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games. During the streak, Burns is 17-for-33 (.515) with three homers, six doubles and 13 RBI. Burns paces the Dodgers with 11 doubles this season. Burns also recorded two stolen bases Friday night and leads OKC with seven steals this season.

-Friday marked the Dodgers’ 12th multi-homer game of the season as the team has now homered in five consecutive games for the first time this season. OKC also has seven homers over the last three games and has hit 32 homers over the last 19 games.

-The Dodgers held the Chihuahuas to one run for a second straight night and have now held an opponent to one run in five of the last 10 games. The Dodgers have also allowed three runs or less in seven of their last 10 games, including six games with two runs or less.

-Matt Davidson doubled his season RBI total Friday by connecting on a bases-clearing double in the first inning. Davidson entered the game with three RBI this season and now has six RBI.

-Reigning Triple-A West Pitcher of the Week Austin Bibens-Dirkx (3-1) followed opener Dennis Santana’s 2.0 scoreless innings on the mound and recorded his third win of the season. Bibens-Dirkx allowed one run on four hits over 4.2 innings with two walks and four strikeouts. He faced 21 batters, throwing 82 pitches, including 51 strikes.

What’s Next: The OKC Dodgers continue their series against the El Paso Chihuahuas at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers and INTEGRIS Health will continue the “Home Run For Life” series by honoring two-year-old Harper Gifford, of Elk City, Okla., during the game. Tickets are available by visiting 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.