Davidson Collects Six RBI, but OKC Falls to Las Vegas, 10-9

Las Vegas Aviators — 10

OKC Dodgers - 9

Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: Matt Davidson homered twice and collected six RBI for the Oklahoma City Dodgers, but it wasn’t enough as the Las Vegas Aviators overcame a five-run deficit to defeat the Dodgers, 10-9, Saturday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Trailing, 9-4, in a back-and-forth game, the Aviators scored six runs on seven hits in the eighth inning to go in front, 10-9. The Dodgers put the tying run on base in the ninth inning as Davidson led off with a single, but Aviators pitcher Ben Bracewell retired the next three OKC batters to send Las Vegas to a 3-0 lead in the series. Las Vegas (54-45) took the first lead of the game on a homer by Khris Davis in the second inning and Las Vegas starting pitcher Brian Howard retired the first 10 Dodgers batters he faced until Zach McKinstry hit a single in the fourth inning. Davidson followed McKinstry and crushed a two-run homer out to the top of the grass berm in center field for a 2-1 OKC lead. Meanwhile, Dodgers starting pitcher Nick Tropeano retired 12 Aviators batters in a row following Davis’ homer. OKC’s Deacon Liput homered out to center field in the fifth inning to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1. A two-run homer by the Aviators tied the game in the sixth inning before a sacrifice fly gave them a 4-3 advantage. The Dodgers (49-49) responded with two runs in the sixth inning — on a RBI single by Zach Reks and sacrifice fly by Omar Estévez — to take a 5-4 lead. Davidson then hammered a grand slam in the seventh inning for a 9-4 Dodgers lead before the Aviators’ comeback.

Of Note:

-In his first game back after a stint on the Injured List, Matt Davidson connected on two homers, including OKC’s sixth grand slam of the season in the seventh inning, to boost his team-leading total to 20 homers this season. Davidson finished the night 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a season-high six RBI — which also tied his career-high mark for RBI in a game last achieved April 29, 2015 for Triple-A Charlotte against Toledo. He became the fourth Dodgers player this season with six or more RBI in a game and is now tied for the team lead with 55 RBI this season.

-With Saturday night’s loss the Dodgers have now lost a season-high five consecutive games. OKC has also lost eight of the last nine games and is 0-3 to open a series for the second straight time. Following an Aug. 17 win against Round Rock, the Dodgers’ record was a season-best seven games above .500 at 48-41. With Saturday’s defeat, the Dodgers are now back to .500 with a 49-49 record, marking the first time they have had a .500 record since June 22 (21-21).

-Deacon Liput homered for a second straight game and one night after collecting his first Triple-A homer with OKC. Liput has 12 total homers this season, including 10 homers with High-A Great Lakes before he joined OKC in mid-August. Liput went 2-for-4 Saturday and scored two runs.

-The Dodgers and Aviators combined for five homers Saturday night and have hit a combined 11 homers over the first three games of the current series. After hitting three homers over the previous five games combined, the Dodgers hit three homers Saturday as seven of OKC’s nine runs scored via a home runs…The Dodgers have now allowed multiple homers in four straight games and the Aviators pace Triple-A West with 169 homers in 2021.

-The Dodgers and Aviators struck out a combined 24 times Saturday night. Aviators starting pitcher Brian Howard tied his career-high mark with 10 K’s Saturday as Las Vegas pitchers totaled 13 strikeouts. Dodgers starting pitcher Nick Tropeano led OKC with five of the team’s 11 K’s.

-Zach Reks picked up his ninth RBI in the past eight games Saturday and paces the team with 17 RBI in August although he has only played in 14 of the team’s 23 games this month. Overall this season he leads OKC with 72 hits and 59 runs scored while his 55 RBI are tied for the team lead.

-OKC compiled its highest run total in a span of six games and most since tallying 11 runs Aug. 21 in a 12-11 loss in Sugar Land. However, the Dodgers also allowed their highest run total since that same 12-11 road loss Aug. 21.

What’s Next: The OKC Dodgers and the Las Vegas Aviators next meet at 6:05 p.m. Sunday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Kids can run the bases following 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.