Dodgers Take Series Lead; Turn Triple Play

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 7

Reno Aces – 5

Thursday, June 1, 2023 – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored five unanswered runs and also turned a triple play on the way to a 7-5 win against the Reno Aces Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers (39-15) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI singles by Jonny DeLuca and Luke Williams. The Aces (31-23) responded with five straight runs over the third through fifth innings to build a 5-2 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, DeLuca connected on a two-run home run out to left field to trim Reno’s lead to one. After turning a 5-4-3 triple play with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning, the Dodgers tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a RBI double by Jahmai Jones. DeLuca’s RBI single put the Dodgers in front, 6-5, later in the inning. Devin Mann added a RBI single in the eighth inning for a 7-5 OKC advantage. Reliever Gus Varland recorded the final nine outs to earn the win.

Of Note:

-The Dodgers won for the third time in the last four games as they improved to 39-15 overall and tied their season-high mark of 24 games above .500. Their 39 wins lead the Minors and are the most by an OKC team through 54 games during the Bricktown era (since 1998).

-The Dodgers turned a triple play in the top of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and none out, Reno’s Dominic Miroglio hit a grounder toward OKC third baseman Yonny Hernández. With Hernández running toward him, Reno’s Alek Thomas was called out between second and third base for leaving the base line. Hernández then threw to Jahmai Jones at second base for a force out, and Jones’ throw to first base beat Miroglio for the third out. It was the first triple play turned by OKC since June 9, 2005 in New Orleans.

-Jonny DeLuca went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 15-for-37 with 12 RBI and six extra-base hits, including three homers. Since joining OKC from Double-A Tulsa May 16, DeLuca leads the Dodgers with 21 hits and 18 RBI in 15 games and now has recorded three games with four RBI.

-Yonny Hernández reached base in three of four plate appearances, collecting a double, two walks and scoring two runs He extended his hitting streak to 13 games — the longest hitting streak of the season by an OKC player and second-longest active streak in the PCL. During the streak, he is 16-for-44 (.364) with six extra-base hits, 11 walks and 11 runs scored. It’s the second-longest hitting streak of Hernández’s career, trailing only a 17-game streak in 2016 with the DSL Rangers and the second-longest active streak in the league.

-Jahmai Jones doubled in a seventh consecutive game as he extended his hitting streak to nine games (12x24) and pushed his on-base streak to 17 games.

-Devin Mann finished with a hit and RBI as he extended his on-base streak to 21 games — the second-longest on-base streak of the season by an OKC player.

-Including Thursday, 12 of the Dodgers’ last 17 games have been decided by one or two runs and 28 of the team’s 54 total games this season have been decided by two runs or less. OKC is now 22-6 in those close games.

-The current series features the top two teams in the Pacific Coast League and the league-leading Dodgers now have a 2-1 lead in the series and an eight-win lead ahead of the second-place Aces. The PCL season is split into halves in 2023, with the first half ending June 25 after 75 games. The winner of the first half — the team with the best record in the 10-team league — will serve as host of a League Championship Series starting Sept. 26, meeting the second-half winner for a best-of-three series.

-The Dodgers were charged with a season-high four errors after going a season-high six consecutive games without an error.

-Thursday’s game started after a 20-minute weather delay. The game entered another weather delay after the completion of the third inning and play resumed after a delay of 1 hour, 11 minutes…Thursday marked the second weather delay of the season for OKC and first of 2023 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

What’s Next: The series between the Dodgers and Space Cowboys continues at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark with Salute to Armed Forces Night presented by Casey’s. Dodgers players and coaches will take the field in special commemorative camouflage jerseys and hats. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans will receive a camo Dodgers hat. Recognition of military members will take place throughout the evening and fireworks will follow the game, presented by Casey’s.

Single-game tickets for OKC Dodgers games through June are available at 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. Video broadcasts of all OKC Dodgers home games are now available to be streamed live for free on the Bally Live app.