Ruiz Hits Homer in Ninth Inning of OKC's 4-3 Loss

El Paso - 4

OKC Dodgers - 3

Monday, June 14, 2021 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: Keibert Ruiz hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, but the Oklahoma City Dodgers were unable to overcome an early deficit in a 4-3 loss to the El Paso Chihuahuas Monday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. El Paso (16-18) built a 3-0 lead in the third inning. In the fourth inning, the Dodgers (15-20) loaded the bases with three straight singles and Cristian Santana drove in the first run of the night for OKC with a sacrifice fly. A RBI single by Luis Campusano extended El Paso’s lead to 4-1 in the seventh inning. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Elliot Soto led off with a single. Later with two outs, Ruiz hit his fourth home run of the series to bring the Dodgers within one run with two outs. El Paso’s Mason Thompson then got Steven Souza Jr. to strike out to end the game as the Dodgers lost a third straight game.

Of Note:

-OKC has dropped three straight games for their longest losing skid since losing three games in a row May 22-24. The Dodgers had gone 11-4 over their the 15 games prior to Saturday.

-After being held 0-for-6 over his previous two games, Keibert Ruiz went 2-for-5 Monday with a two-run homer. He now has hit four homers in the current series, including two on Friday and one on Thursday. In 20 games with OKC this season, 16 of his 23 hits have gone for extra bases. During the current homestand, Ruiz is 11-for-28 with five homers, three doubles, five walks, 10 runs scored and 11 RBI.

-Zach Reks finished with two hits Monday and has reached base in 27 of his 28 starts this season. Over his last 14 games, Reks is 19-for-53 (.358) with seven doubles. He entered Monday ranked third in Triple-A West with 28 runs scored and a .446 OBP.

-With Ruiz’s homer, the Dodgers have now homered at least once in seven of the last eight games (11 HR total) and have hit 35 homers in their last 23 games…On the other hand, the Dodgers pitching staff has not allowed a homer in a season-high five games. The staff has allowed just four homers through the first 11 games of the current homestand.

-Dodgers pitchers issued just one walk Monday night, tying their season-low mark first set May 10 at Round Rock…OKC’s offense only walked one time as well Monday, also tying a season-low mark for the fifth time this season and first time since May 31 at El Paso. Entering Monday, the Dodgers had drawn 109 walks in the previous 21 games — the most in Triple-A West and second-most in all of Triple-A.

-Pitchers for both teams combined for three hits Monday night. Dodgers reliever Mike Kickham singled to right field in the fifth inning for his first hit since June 6, 2019 with Triple-A New Orleans against Fresno. Dodgers pitchers entered Monday’s game batting .020 (1-for-50). The other hit by an OKC pitcher this season came in the first game of the current series when Yefry Ramírez doubled against the Chihuahuas Thursday.

-With Monday’s win, El Paso took a 3-2 lead in the six-game series between the teams. The Dodgers won the first two games before the Chihuahuas have won the last three meetings in a row.

What’s Next: The OKC Dodgers and El Paso Chihuahuas wrap up their series at 7:05 p.m. on a $2 Tuesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. All Tuesday home games feature $2 select beer, soda and bottled water from a line of Budweiser and Pepsi products. COOP Ale Works draft beer will also be available at a special rate of $3. 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.