Dodgers' Late Rally Falls Just Short in Triple-A Championship Game
Norfolk Tides – 7 Oklahoma City Dodgers – 6 Triple-A National Championship Game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 – Las Vegas Ballpark – Las Vegas, Nev. Game Summary: Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas both homered as the Oklahoma City Dodgers put together a four-run rally with two outs in the bottom
Norfolk Tides – 7
Oklahoma City Dodgers – 6
Triple-A National Championship Game
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 – Las Vegas Ballpark – Las Vegas, Nev.
Game Summary: Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas both homered as the Oklahoma City Dodgers put together a four-run rally with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night, but the Norfolk Tides held on to defeat the Dodgers, 7-6, in the Triple-A National Championship Game at Las Vegas Ballpark. The International League Champion Tides (3-1/90-59) grabbed the game’s first lead in the third inning when Coby Mayo was caught stealing second base and a run scored from second base for a 1-0 Norfolk advantage. The Pacific Coast League Champion Dodgers (2-1/90-58) fought back to take the lead. Hunter Feduccia hit a solo home run in the fifth inning out to right field to tie the score, 1-1. Then in the sixth inning, the Dodgers went in front, 2-1. Miguel Vargas doubled and later scored on a RBI single by Jonny DeLuca for a 2-1 OKC advantage. The Tides went on to load the bases in the seventh inning before Colton Cowser hit a grand slam out to center field for a 5-2 lead. A two-run homer by Connor Norby in the ninth inning extended the Tides to a 7-2 lead. The Dodgers then rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Drew Avans connected on a RBI single. Busch followed with a two-run homer out to right field before Vargas connected on a solo homer out to left field to cut the deficit to one run.
Of Note:
-The Pacific Coast League Champion Oklahoma City Dodgers made their first appearance in a Triple-A National Championship Game and first in postseason interleague competition during the franchise’s Bricktown era (since 1998) and Pacific Coast League history (1963-68; 1998-2023)…The Dodgers advanced to the game by sweeping the best-of-three Pacific Coast League Championship Series, 2-0, earlier this week to win Oklahoma City’s first league title since 1996 and fifth league title in the franchise’s history after the team also won PCL titles in 1963 and 1965 and American Association titles in 1992 and 1996 as the Oklahoma City 89ers…The Dodgers finished the 2023 regular season with 90-58 record overall and with the most wins for an Oklahoma City team in a single season during the Bricktown era (since 1998). Their 90 wins are the second-most wins in OKC’s Triple-A history (since 1962) behind only the 1965 Oklahoma City 89ers, who finished 91-54, and tied for the most in the Minors this season with Saturday’s opponent Norfolk.
-Michael Busch went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI, closing the Triple-A season on a 12-game hitting streak between the regular season and postseason. During the streak, Busch went 17-for-45 (.378) with nine extra-base hits, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. He homered in five of his last seven games. He also led the Dodgers with five RBI in the postseason.
-Miguel Vargas went 2-for-5 with a double, home run and scored two runs Saturday.
-Hunter Feduccia hit his second home run of the playoffs and his fourth home run in the last eight games going back to the regular season. Feduccia went 2-for-4 Saturday.
-Drew Avans hit a RBI single, drew a walk and scored a run as he finished with a team-leading seven hits in the postseason, going 7-for-11.
-Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yency Almonte opened the game as part of a Major League Rehab Assignment. He pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. He faced five batters and threw 25 pitches (13 strikes). Almonte suffered a right knee sprain and was placed on the LAD Injured List Aug. 12.
-The Norfolk Tides’ win gave the IL back-to-back Triple-A National Championships, but the PCL owns a 9-7 record against the IL in Triple-A title games since 2006.
What’s Next: The Dodgers’ 2023 season wrapped up Saturday night and the Dodgers’ 2024 schedule opens March 29 on the road in Tacoma.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring