Dodgers Drop Finale to Bees, 4-1

Salt Lake – 4

OKC Dodgers – 1

Tuesday, July 6, 2021 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: The Salt Lake Bees grabbed an early lead Tuesday then went on to hold the Oklahoma City Dodgers to one run for the second time in the series, sending OKC to a 4-1 loss in the series finale between the teams at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Bees (25-27) scored two runs in the first inning. With Jon Jay on second base, Jo Adell hit a fly ball to center field that was caught for an out. Jay went on to score the first run of the night during a rundown and OKC throwing error. Matt Thais also advanced to third base and later scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead. Zach Reks brought in a run for the Dodgers (28-25) when he hit into a fielder's choice in the third inning to cut the Bees' lead to 2-1. In the fourth inning, Salt Lake’s Michael Stefanic grounded into a double play to bring in a run for a 3-1 lead. Brennon Lund singled to right field in the ninth inning and an OKC fielding error allowed a run to score and extend the Bees’ lead to 4-1.

Of Note:

-The Dodgers were held to one run Tuesday night for the second time in the six-game series with the Bees and to two or fewer runs for the third time in the series. Tuesday marked the fifth time this season the Dodgers were held to one run or less. Prior to Friday night, the Dodgers had scored at least two runs a game since May 18.

-The Bees scored four runs in their win Tuesday, but did not record an RBI in the game as their runs scored on two errors, a passed ball and a double play. Salt Lake outhit the Dodgers, 8-5, in the game and did not register an extra-base hit as OKC held an opponent without an extra-base hit for the first time in 10 games.

-With Tuesday’s defeat, the Dodgers finished the series, 2-4, against the Bees and lost their first series since a May 20-25 set in Albuquerque when they also lost four games. Entering the Salt Lake series, OKC was 4-0-1 in its five previous series…Tuesday’s loss also snapped OKC’s streak of four straight wins in series finales.

-Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia entered the game in the eighth inning and struck out the first two batters he faced to extend his strikeout streak to 15 batters dating back to June 17 at Round Rock. After striking out the first two batters he faced Tuesday night, he allowed a single on a ground ball up the middle by Jo Adell. But Vesia then answered with a strikeout of Kean Wong to end the inning for his 16th strikeout against the last 17 batters. For context, the Major League record for most consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher is 10 by Eric Gagné in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over his nine appearances with OKC, Vesia has allowed just one run and three hits over 9.0 total innings with three walks and 19 strikeouts.

-Drew Avans went 1-for-2 with a walk Tuesday. The outfielder is batting .359 (14x39) over last 14 games with a .457 OBP and 10 runs scored. He is now 6-for-18 over his last five games and 3-for-7 with a walk in his last two games.

-Tim Federowicz finished with a team-leading two hits, including a double Tuesday. He also scored a run as he notched his second multi-hit game of the season.

-The three double plays turned by Oklahoma City Tuesday night tied a season high. It was the third time OKC turned three double plays in a game with the last time being June 13 vs. El Paso.

-Bees starting pitcher Packy Naughton (2-1) had the longest start by an opposing pitcher this season, throwing 7.0 innings and holding the Dodgers to one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Five opposing pitchers had previously gone 6.0 innings.

-Tuesday was the seventh game for OKC this season in which neither team hit a home run. That only happened eight times total in 2019. OKC has now not homered in four of its last five games – all losses.

What’s Next: Following a league-wide day off Wednesday, the Dodgers return to the road to open a six-game series in El Paso against the Chihuahuas at 8:05 p.m. CT Thursday at Southwest University Park. 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.