Big Inning Sparks Las Vegas in Series Opener

Las Vegas Aviators – 12

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 4

Monday, July 4, 2022 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: An eight-run fourth inning by the Las Vegas Aviators broke open Monday night’s game as they sent the Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 12-4 loss in the series opener between the teams at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. With the score in a 1-1 tie, Las Vegas (44-34) then scored eight runs in the fourth inning and a total of 11 straight runs as they built a 12-1 lead through seven innings. The Aviators scored a run in the first inning and Oklahoma City (47-32) evened the score in the third inning when Zach McKinstry connected on a RBI ground-rule double. The Aviators quickly responded with eight runs in the fourth inning, including a three-run homer by Austin Allen and a three-run triple by Luis Barrera. Allen hit his second homer in as many innings, adding a two-run shot in the fifth inning, before the Aviators tacked on another run in the seventh inning. The Dodgers scored three runs over their final two at-bats with Michael Busch connecting on a two-run homer in the eighth inning before back-to-back doubles in the ninth inning by Hunter Feduccia and Drew Avans brought in the final run for OKC.

Of Note:

-Las Vegas scored eight runs in the fourth inning Monday for the most runs allowed by the Dodgers in an inning this season and the most runs allowed by the team in a single inning since July 7, 2019 when they allowed eight runs in the fourth inning of a home game against Round Rock in OKC.

-The Dodgers have now allowed at least 11 runs in four straight games (53 total runs), including 12 or more runs in each of the last three consecutive games. It is the first time in OKC’s Bricktown era (since 1998) that the team has allowed double-digit runs in four straight games.

-Zach McKinstry opened a Major League Rehab Assignment with OKC Monday night after being placed on the Los Angeles Dodgers Injured List June 28 with neck stiffness. He went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI before Ty Kelly entered the game as a defensive substitution for McKinstry to start the eighth inning.

-The Dodgers have now suffered four straight losses for the first time this season and for the first time since a five-game losing skid Aug. 23-28, 2021.

-Michael Busch went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. He has now homered in six of his last 13 games and eight of his last 18 games. He has 10 home runs with OKC and 21 home runs overall this season to lead the Dodgers minor league system.

-Drew Avans connected on a RBI double in the ninth inning as he reached base in a season-best 19th straight game, tying for the longest on-base streak by an OKC player this season. Avans has now hit safely in six straight games.

-The Aviators scored a run in the first inning and opponents have now scored in the first or second inning in each of the last 11 games. Over the 11-game stretch, the Dodgers have allowed 30 total runs over the first two innings (22 innings).

-Hunter Feduccia hit two doubles and scored two runs as he collected his first two Triple-A hits in his third-ever Triple-A game.

-The Dodgers played at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on the Fourth of July for an eighth straight season. Monday was their first July fourth loss since 2018 and the Dodgers fell to 5-3 in the last eight July Fourth games in OKC.

What’s Next: The series between the Dodgers and Aviators continues at 7:05 p.m. on a $2 Tuesday featuring $2 select beer, soda and bottled water from a line of Budweiser and Pepsi products at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. COOP Ale Works draft beer will also be available at a special rate of $3.

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.