Walk-Off Win Opens Series in OKC

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 7

El Paso Chihuahuas – 6

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: Ryan Ward connected on a RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 7-6 walk-off win against the El Paso Chihuahuas Tuesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers (11-5/61-28) trailed, 5-4, entering the bottom of the eighth inning before coming back to tie the score for the third time in the game on a RBI single by Justin Yurchak and taking their first lead of the night, 6-5, on a sacrifice fly by Drew Avans. The Chihuahuas (4-12/36-55) knotted the score again on a RBI single in the top of the ninth inning. Miguel Vargas then led off the bottom of the inning with a double for the Dodgers and scored the winning run via Ward’s RBI single with one out. El Paso took the game’s first lead on a leadoff home run by Preston Tucker. The Dodgers answered with a solo home run by Ward in the bottom of the first inning. El Paso went on to build a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning before Michael Busch hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score, 4-4.

Of Note:

-The Dodgers won a fifth consecutive game to improve their overall record to 61-28 as they own the most wins in the Minors…This is the fifth winning streak of the season of five or more games for the Dodgers, who are now 11-4 in their last 15 games…The Dodgers have now won eight straight home series openers.

-The walk-off win was OKC’s seventh of the season and first since May 21 against Sugar Land when Ryan Ward scored the winning run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth inning…Tuesday’s victory was also OKC’s 17th last at-bat win of 2023.

-Miguel Vargas finished with a game-high four hits, going 4-for-5 with a double, stolen base and scored the winning run. In his four games with OKC since being optioned by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vargas has reached base in 13 of 20 plate appearances, going 6-for-13 with six walks and a hit by pitch. Tuesday was his second four-hit game of the season and first since May 2 with Los Angeles against Philadelphia.

-Michael Busch went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer. He has reached base in 14 consecutive games and has hit five home runs in the last 10 games and six homers in the last 13 games since rejoining OKC June 30.

-Ryan Ward collected a second straight multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with his 10th homer of the season. Over his last three games, Ward is 5-for-13 with six RBI.

-The Dodgers homered twice and have hit at least one homer in 12 of the last 14 games (18 HR). Since June 3, the Dodgers have hit 50 homers over 34 games after the team hit 47 homers over the first 55 games of the season.

-OKC finished with 17 hits, reaching the mark for the seventh time this season and first since collecting 19 hits June 30 in Sugar Land. The Dodgers last had 17 hits at home June 13 against Salt Lake.

What’s Next: The Dodgers and Chihuahuas continue their series at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Single-game tickets for OKC Dodgers home games are available at 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. Video broadcasts of all OKC Dodgers home games are now available to be streamed live for free on the Bally Live app.