Duggar's Dinger Sends Dodgers to Victory

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 8

Sugar Land Space Cowboys – 6

Wednesday, Sept. 6**, 2023 – Constellation Field – Sugar Land, Texas**

Game Summary: Steven Duggar hit a two-run homer to break a tie in the ninth inning, as the Oklahoma City Dodgers topped the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, 8-6, during a back-and-forth affair at Constellation Field Wednesday night. The Dodgers (31-28/81-51) entered the eighth inning trailing, 4-3, but scored three runs on a bases-clearing double by the rehabbing J.D. Martinez to take the lead at 6-4. However, Sugar Land (20-39/53-81) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the inning to send game to the ninth inning in a 6-6 tie. With a runner on base and two outs, Duggar launched a home run to right field to give the Dodgers the lead. Closer Wander Suero then kept the Space Cowboys off the board in the bottom of the inning to wrap up the win. Sugar Land jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning on a three-run homer by Corey Julks. The Dodgers scored twice in the fourth inning with back-to-back RBI doubles by Jonny DeLuca and David Dahl. A Miguel Vargas RBI single tied the game in the top of the sixth inning before Sugar Land’s Shay Whitcomb hit a go-ahead homer in the bottom half.

Of Note:

-The Dodgers have now won five of their last seven games and six of their last nine games. They improved to 15-5 against Sugar Land this season and still have not lost consecutive games to the Space Cowboys since 2021.

-The Dodgers collected their 14th win this season when trailing after seven innings and 12th win this season after trailing by at least three runs.

-Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez continued his Major League Rehab Assignment and went 1-for-4 with a walk. Martinez hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the eighth inning in addition to a groundout, two strikeouts and a walk. Over his first two games with OKC, the six-time MLB All-Star is 1-for-8. He has been on the Injured List since Aug. 22 with a groin injury.

-Steven Duggar hit his third game-tying or go-ahead home run in the ninth inning this season. He previously hit game-tying home runs in the ninth inning against Sugar Land May 16 at home and July 14 at Sacramento. The Dodgers went on to win all three games.

-Jonny DeLuca went 1-for-5 with a RBI double.He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 11-for-29 (.379) with six doubles, a triple, two homers and eight RBI. He’s collected at least one extra-base hit in each of those seven games.

-The Dodgers drew 13 walks, tying their most in a nine-inning game this season. Miguel Vargas took four of the walks, tying his career high and equaling the most by an OKC player this season.

-David Dahl went 1-for-4 with a RBI double and a walk to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

-After not allowing a home run in a season-high six straight games, the Dodgers allowed two home runs Wednesday, accounting for four of Sugar Land’s six runs. OKC had also allowed just one home run in the past eight games prior to Wednesday.

What’s Next: The Dodgers continue their series in Sugar Land at 6:35 p.m. Thursday at Constellation Field. 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.