Late Run Sends Dodgers to 5-4 Loss

Sugar Land Skeeters – 5

OKC Dodgers – 4

Thursday, July 22, 2021 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: The Sugar Land Skeeters broke a tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning to send the Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 5-4 loss Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. After his team took the lead, Skeeters pitcher Ronel Blanco then retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the ninth inning in the series opener between the teams. Sugar Land (38-28) grabbed the game’s first lead on a RBI single by Jake Meyers, who went on to finish the night with a game-best four RBI. The Dodgers (35-32) tied the game in the third inning when Omar Estévez doubled and scored on a RBI single by Keibert Ruiz. Matt Davidson hit his team-leading 15th home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Back-to-back doubles with one out in the fifth inning allowed the Skeeters to tie the game, 2-2. Designated hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo then sent a two-run homer into the Dodgers bullpen in left-center field to regain the Dodgers lead. The Skeeters scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie the game, 4-4, before their sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

Of Note:

-Matt Davidson hit his team-leading 15th homer of the season Thursday and now has 11 home runs in his last 17 games and 13 homers in his last 23 games. Davidson is batting 19-for-63 (.302) over his last 17 games with 15 extra-base hits and 24 RBI. He entered the game leading all Triple-A players in homers (10) and SLG (.881) since June 29.

-Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a two-run homer Thursday night and has now reached base safely in 10 straight games. During the stretch, he is 12-for-33 (.364) with a double, four homers, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. Over his last nine games, Tsutsugo is 12-for-29 (.414) after going 8-for-67 in his first 17 games with OKC.

-With two more homers Thursday, the Dodgers have now homered in eight straight games and in 12 of the last 13 games. OKC has hit 29 homers over the last 19 games and are in the midst of their longest stretch of consecutive games with a homer since a season-best 10-game streak June 13-24…On the other hand, the Dodgers held an opponent without a home run for a second straight game and their 20 homers allowed so far in July are the fewest in Triple-A West.

-The Dodgers fell to 6-6 in series openers this season, including 4-2 at home. OKC had won six of its last seven series openers entering Thursday’s game, including four straight at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

-Dodgers pitchers racked up 15 strikeouts to tie their season-high mark for K’s in a game. It was the fifth time this season Dodgers pitchers recorded 15 strikeouts in a game. Thursday was also the team’s second straight game with double-digit strikeouts and fifth time in the last six games with double-digit strikeouts.

-With Thursday’s loss, OKC fell to 1-5 in games tied after eight innings.

What’s Next: The OKC Dodgers continue their series against the Sugar Land Skeeters at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Loop Rawlins will perform his one-man Wild West show, presented by Heartland Flyer. The trick roper, whip cracker and gun spinner will perform a variety of jaw-dropping feats throughout the night. Fireworks are scheduled to follow the game. Tickets are available by visiting 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. All OKC Dodgers games are also available streamed live on MiLB.TV with a subscription.