Dodgers Open Series with 5-4 Walk-Off Win in 10 Innings

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 5

Sugar Land Space Cowboys – 4

(10 innings)

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to force extra innings and scored the game’s winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning of 5-4 victory against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys Tuesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers (56-38) built a 3-0 lead through six innings. Michael Busch connected on a sacrifice fly in the third inning and Ryan Noda hit a two-run home run out to center field. Meanwhile, Dodgers starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot pitched 6.0 scoreless innings before Sugar Land’s Yainer Diaz hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to break the shutout. Sugar Land’s Jose Siri later hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Space Cowboys (40-54) the lead, 4-3. Trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Miguel Vargas hit a fly ball to center field with two outs. Two Sugar Land outfielders converged, but neither was able to make the catch. Vargas reached second base and pinch-runner Andy Burns scored on the double to force extra innings with the score in a 4-4 tie. In the top of the 10th inning, Sugar Land’s designated runner started at second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Dodgers pitcher Carson Fulmer then retired the next three Space Cowboys batters to escape the jam. Jason Martin started the bottom of the 10th inning on second base as the designated runner for the Dodgers and advanced to third base on a single by Ryan Noda. Later in the inning with Jake Amaya at the plate and one out, a wild pitch allowed Martin to score the winning run for OKC’s walk-off victory.

Of Note:

-Tuesday was the Dodgers’ fifth walk-off victory of the season and third against the Space Cowboys. Three of OKC’s last four games against Sugar Land have been walk-off wins and the Dodgers’ last three walk-off victories overall have come against Sugar Land. Tuesday was also the second time this season, and second time against Sugar Land, that the Dodgers posted a walk-off win in 10 innings.

-The Dodgers extended their winning streak to four straight games as they opened a six-game series with Sugar Land. The four-game winning streak is the team’s longest since June 15-18 in Reno and OKC’s first stretch of four straight home wins since April 7-10 against Albuquerque…OKC has now won nine of the last 10 meetings with the Space Cowboys.

-Dodgers starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot pitched a season-high 7.0 innings, including six scoreless frames. He did not factor into the decision, but the Dodgers improved to 13-0 in his starts this season. Pepiot allowed one run and three hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He allowed just one hit through five innings and two hits through six innings…Carson Fulmer (5-1) pitched the ninth and 10th innings and was credited with the win, escaping the jam in the 10th inning, and allowing one hit with three strikeouts.

-Drew Avans finished with a game-high three hits, going 3-for-5 with a run scored to extend his on-base streak to 33 games. It is the longest on-base streak by an OKC player this season and the longest active streak in the PCL. He is also one of two players in the league this season to have an on-base streak of 33 games or longer, trailing only El Paso’s Nomar Mazara, who reached base in 35 consecutive games earlier this season. Tuesday was the sixth time this season Avans posted a season-high three hits. He also recorded his team-leading 22nd stolen base.

-Miguel Vargas added to his PCL-best hit total, going 2-for-4 with a double, walk and RBI. He leads the league with 104 hits and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games.

-Ryan Noda hit his 14th home run of the season and second in the last four games. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI.

-OKC improved to 2-2 in extra-inning games with the win. All four of OKC’s extra-inning games have been played at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark this season and Tuesday was the team’s first extra-inning game since June 10 against Salt Lake.

What’s Next: The series between the Dodgers and Space Cowboys continues at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. 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