Dodgers Top Express 2-1 in Pitchers’ Duel on Sunday

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma City Dodgers (45-27) edged out the Round Rock Express (37-35) by a final score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark to claim a 4-2 series win.

Round Rock RHP Spencer Patton (2-1, 3.86) went home with the loss after a 1.1-inning relief outing that saw one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Oklahoma City RHP Yadier Alvarez (3-0, 2.25) earned the win thanks to a scoreless 2.1 frames of relief. He allowed one hit and one walk while punching out three. RHP Daniel Zamora earned a save after earning the final out of the game.

Along the Train Tracks:

• After a scoreless first inning, Round Rock jumped on the board in the top of the second. RF Steele Walker knocked a leadoff single then moved to third as C Sam Huff singled. A sacrifice fly from LF Nick Solak sent Walker home for the 1-0 lead.
• Oklahoma City responded to tie the game in the bottom of the frame when 2B Michael Busch worked a leadoff walk, found third on a Jason Martin single and scored thanks to a single from 1B Ryan Noda.
• Dodgers LF Miguel Vargas hit a home run into left field in the fifth inning to break the tie and put the home team ahead 2-1.
• The rest of the game saw a total of five hits, but neither team was able to put another run across. The two pitching staffs totaled 22 strikeouts, 16 groundouts and nine flyouts during the contest.
• The Express put two runners on base in the ninth inning when, with two outs, 2B Nash Knight was hit by a pitch and CF Bubba Thompson singled. After pinch-runner Elier Hernandez replaced Knight, 1B Zach Reks hit into a fielder’s choice that caught Hernandez at home to end the game in the 2-1 final.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express C Sam Huff led the way on offense, hitting 3-for-4, which was good for half of Round Rock’s six hits. The E-Train were only out-hit by a difference of one as Oklahoma City earned seven knocks.
• Round Rock RHP Kohei Arihara and RHP Jason Bahr posted scoreless outings out of the bullpen. Arihara tossed two innings while Bahr tossed one and each recorded one strikeout.c

Next up: Round Rock returns to Dell Diamond on Tuesday to face the Las Vegas Aviators for three games before heading to Nevada for three more. Aviators LHP Zach Logue (2-1, 5.49) is set to start against an Express pitcher to be determined. Tuesday’s series opener is slated for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

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