Seventh Inning Rally Sparks Win
Las Vegas, Nev. - The Oklahoma City Dodgers rallied for four runs in the seventh inning and once again shut down the Las Vegas 51s at the plate over the second half of the game, winning 6-4 Saturday night at Cashman Field.
With the victory, the Dodgers (28-13) have matched their season-best record at 15 games above .500 and won consecutive games in Las Vegas for the first time since July 30-31, 2005.
Trailing 4-2 in the seventh inning, the Dodgers plated four runs to jump in front. With the bases loaded and one out, Brian Burgamy tied the game with a pinch-hit two-run double. A passed ball allowed the go-ahead run to score, and Darnell Sweeney added a sacrifice fly to make it 6-4.
Saturday's win was the team's fifth of the season when trailing after six innings - tied for most in the PCL.
After the 51s (27-16) scored four runs on seven hits through the first five innings, the Dodgers held Las Vegas scoreless and to one hit over the final four frames. The pitching staff retired 13 of the last 14 batters, and the bullpen allowed one hit with five strikeouts over three scoreless innings.
David Aardsma retired the side in order, including a pair of strikeouts, to collect his league-leading 13th save.
Las Vegas struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Brandon Allen led off and sent a line drive to left field that just cleared the fence for his fourth home run of the season.
The Dodgers caught a series of breaks to tie the game in the third inning. Brian Ward led off and reached base on a missed catch error by 51s first baseman Alex Castellanos. Ward advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and then moved over to third base on a wild pitch. He later scored on a balk by 51s pitcher Matthew Bowman.
The 51s looked like they were going to regain the lead in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases with one out for Allen. Instead, P.J. Walters got Allen to hit into an inning-ending double play to keep the game tied.
The Dodgers turned an inning-ending double play in each of the first three innings, and the three double plays tied their season high.
OKC went in front in the top of the fifth inning, scoring on a RBI single by Walters. The pitcher now has four RBI in four games, after having collected just five RBI his entire career entering the season.
However, Las Vegas regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to take a 4-2 lead. The 51s tied the game on a RBI single by T.J. Rivera, and Matt Reynolds put Las Vegas in the lead with a RBI groundout. Allen finished the rally with a two-out RBI single.
Walters (2-1) lasted six innings for the third time in his four starts since joining the Dodgers and won a second consecutive start. He allowed four runs and seven hits, with four walks and a season-high six strikeouts.
Through the first six innings, Bowman appeared to be having arguably his best start of the season before running into trouble in the seventh. Bowman (2-5) allowed six runs (four earned) and seven hits over a season-high 6.1 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
The Dodgers look to capture their first series win in Las Vegas in 2005 when they finish their series at Cashman Field Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. Central time. Live coverage begins at 1:35 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game", 1340thegame.com, or through the iHeartRadio mobile app.