Reks Saves the Day in Round Rock

OKC Dodgers – 8

Round Rock – 7

Friday, June 18, 2021 – Dell Diamond – Round Rock, Texas

Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Dodgers defeated the Round Rock Express in dramatic fashion Friday night, with Zach Reks making a diving catch in right field with the tying run at second base to end the game and secure an 8-7 victory. The Dodgers (18-20) led by as many as four runs as late as the seventh inning and still carried a two-run lead with the bases empty and two outs in the ninth inning before a walk and two singles cut OKC’s lead to 8-7. With runners at first and second base, Charles Leblanc hit a fly ball to shallow right field and Reks sprinted in and sprawled out angling to his left to make the game-saving grab.

Leading up to the ninth inning, the Dodgers scored once each in the first and second innings, but Round Rock (23-15) tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Dodgers went ahead, 4-2, on a two-run homer by Cristian Santana in the third inning, and Keibert Ruiz added a RBI single in the fifth inning. The Express pulled within 5-4 after five innings, but a three-run sixth extended OKC’s lead to 8-4. Drew Avans connected on a solo homer, and Yoshi Tsutsugo and Sheldon Neuse each drove in runs. Round Rock scored one run each in the seventh and eighth innings, setting the stage for the ninth-inning drama.

Of Note:

-The Dodgers have won three straight games. They have also started a third straight series with a 2-0 lead and on Saturday will look to win the first three games of a series for the first time in 2021.

-In addition to his game-saving catch, Zach Reks picked up his fourth straight multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a RBI double, walk and two runs scored. Reks is 8-for-19 with four extra-base hits over the last four games, and through 14 games (13 starts) in June, Reks has collected 11 extra-base hits. The Dodgers are now 9-3 when he has batted in the leadoff spot.

-Curtis Terry became the third player in Round Rock history to hit for the cycle, going 4-for-5. Terry hit a triple in the second inning, a solo homer in the fourth inning, a double in the eighth inning and a RBI single during the ninth inning. It’s the second straight season an opponent has collected a cycle against OKC, with Memphis’ Randy Arozarena also accomplishing the feat July 26, 2019 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

-Sheldon Neuse delivered his third straight multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a double. Neuse has started the current series 6-for-9 and is 9-for-13 over the last three games. He has now reached base 10 of his last 13 plate appearances as well as in 11 of his last 15 plate appearances. Neuse has hit safely in six straight games, going 13-for-26 with a homer, five RBI, five runs scored and three walks.

-Both Cristian Santana and Drew Avans each hit their first home runs of the season. Santana’s two-run shot to left field in the third inning broke 2-2 tie and put the Dodgers in the lead for good. For Avans, his homer occurred in the sixth inning on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. His blast went off the roof of the batter’s eye in center field at an estimated 425 feet. Avans finished 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base.

-Yoshi Tsutsugo played in the second game of his Major League Rehab Assignment and went 0-for-2 in five plate appearances with two walks and a sacrifice fly. He also played all nine innings at first base.

-The Dodgers have now homered at least once in 10 of the last 11 games (16 HR total) and have hit 40 homers in their last 26 games, including 14 in the last nine games.

-The OKC pitching staff tied a season high with 15 strikeouts (fourth time).

-Friday marked just the second one-run victory of the season for the Dodgers and the first on the road.

What’s Next: The Dodgers seek a fourth straight win when they meet the Express Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. in Round Rock. 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.