Offense Erupts in Comeback Win in El Paso

OKC Dodgers – 15

El Paso – 11

Friday, July 9, 2021 – Southwest University Park – El Paso, Texas

Game Summary: For the second straight game, the Oklahoma City Dodgers trailed by seven runs early, but the offense responded with 15 unanswered runs before winning, 15-11, Friday night over the El Paso Chihuahuas at Southwest University Park. The Chihuahuas (24-30) led, 7-0, after two innings, with six runs in the second inning alone. The Dodgers (29-27) responded with four runs in the third inning, including a two-run homer by DJ Peters. The bats kept rolling in the fourth inning with five more runs, as Matt Davidson put OKC in the lead for good with a two-run double. After a scoreless fifth inning, the Dodgers plated five more runs in the sixth inning in which they tallied six hits, started with a home run by Davidson. Omar Estévez added a RBI double in eighth inning, and OKC carried a lead into the bottom of the ninth inning before El Paso scored four runs to cap another high scoring affair at Southwest University Park.

Of Note:

-With the win, the Dodgers snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided their first four-game skid since May 15. The win also improved the team’s record to 15-4 in the last 19 road games.

-The team’s 15 runs and 17 hits were both the second-highest totals in each category this season, only bested by a 20-run, 20-hit game May 30, also at El Paso. The Dodgers notched six extra-base hits and went 9-for-21 with runners in scoring position. All eight starting position players collected at least one hit and scored at least one run. Five players finished with multi-hit games, led by four hits from DJ Peters and three hits from Carlos Asuaje.

-The Dodgers scored 14 runs between the third and sixth innings, plating four in the third, five in the fourth, and five in the sixth. They totaled 13 hits across the three innings, and the six hits in the sixth inning was the team’s most in any inning this season.

-The seven-run comeback was the team’s largest of the season and biggest since April 16, 2019, when the Dodgers trailed Omaha, 12-5, and won, 13-12 in Oklahoma City.

-Friday was the second game this season where both the Dodgers and their opponent scored at least 10 runs, with the other instance in an 11-10 loss at Albuquerque on May 23.

-DJ Peters went 4-for5 with a home run and three RBI, setting season highs in both hits and RBI. It was Peters’ third career four-hit game, and his first since Aug. 5, 2018 with Double-A Tulsa against Arkansas. He collected hits in each of his first four at-bats, with a two-run homer and three singles.

-Matt Davidson finished with a game-high four RBI to tie his season high. He went 2-for-4 with a homer, a double and two walks and put the Dodgers in the lead for good with a two-run double in the fourth inning. Davidson is currently on a season-best six-game hitting streak, going 9-for-25 with four homers, three doubles and 14 RBI.

-Keibert Ruiz reached base three times in six plate appearances with a RBI single and two walks. During his current 12-game on-base streak, .Ruiz is 17-for-43 (.395) with two doubles, four homers, eight runs scored, 11 RBI and 13 walks. In eight games against El Paso this season, Ruiz is now 11-for-29 with six home runs and 11 RBI.

-The Chihuahuas scored six runs in the second inning, matching the highest scoring inning by a Dodgers opponent this year. El Paso also scored four runs in the ninth inning, as the Dodgers have now allowed six innings of four-plus runs over the first eight games in July after allowing three such innings throughout all of June.

-At 4 hours, 13 minutes, Friday’s game was the team’s longest nine-inning game of the season.

What’s Next: The Dodgers and Chihuahuas next meet Saturday beginning at 8:05 p.m. CT. 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.