Culberson belts three-run homer in OKC Dodgers victory

From MiLB, MLB.com reports ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

— Bobby Wilson hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning in a game that saw the Oklahoma City Dodgers and Albuquerque Isotopes trade the lead three times in the late innings, as the Dodgers won, 8-6, Tuesday night at Isotopes Park.

The Isotopes (23-22) had just taken a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning following a fourrun rally when the Dodgers (25-18) regained the lead in the eighth inning. With one out, Kyle Farmer doubled, and former Calhoun High star Charlie Culberson and Max Muncy each walked to load the bases.

Wilson came up next and was down in the count 1-2. He then hit a towering fly ball that landed past the Albuquerque bullpen in left field to put the Dodgers back in front. It was the team’s first grand slam of the season and Wilson’s seventh home run of 2017.

The Isotopes couldn’t respond over the final two innings against OKC relievers Madison Younginer, who kept Albuquerque scoreless. Younginer didn’t allow a hit and was able to work around two walks. He notched two strikeouts en route to picking up his fourth save of the year.

Tuesday’s game was fairly pedestrian through five innings, with the Isotopes leading, 2-1.

In the sixth, the Dodgers rallied after having the bases empty with two outs. Trayce Thompson walked and Farmer followed with a single. Culberson came up next and sent a booming three-run homer past the picnic area in left field to give the Dodgers their first lead at 4-2. It was Culberson’s third home run of the season, and the team’s third three-run homer in the last four games.

Albuquerque answered with their own two-out rally in the seventh to capture the lead. With two runners on and the count at 0-2, Jordan Patterson hit a RBI single up the middle to bring the Isotopes within one run. Noel Cuevas came up next and sent a home run a couple feet over the left-center field fence to put the Isotopes in front at 6-4.

The seventh inning marred an otherwise terrific start by Justin Masterson, who cruised through the first six innings. After giving up two quick runs in the first inning, Masterson settled in, holding the Isotopes scoreless and to two hits between the second and sixth. Following the second run of the first inning, Masterson retired 15 of the next 17 batters. He was also extremely efficient, needing just 65 pitches to complete his first six frames. At one point between the third and fifth innings, he retired seven batters on just 12 pitches.

Fortunately for Masterson (4-1), the offense picked him up in the eighth inning and he ended up with the win. He allowed six runs (five earned) and six hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. The Isotopes went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position against Masterson, who entered the game holding opponents 5-for36 with runners in scoring position throughout the entire season.

The Isotopes plated a pair of runs in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Rosell Herrera drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second base on a ground out. Patterson then hit a soft line drive in between Farmer and third base line for a RBI double to put Albuquerque in front. On the next play, Farmer committed a fielding error, and later in the inning with two outs, Collin Ferguson hit a RBI single.

The Dodgers got on the board in the fifth inning. With one out, Wilson worked a 10-pitch plate appearance that resulted with a single. After Masterson moved Wilson to second base with a sacrifice bunt, Drew Maggi sent a RBI single to shallow center field to get the Dodgers within one run.

After scoring one run on four hits through the first five innings, the Dodgers piled up seven runs on six hits over the final four innings. They outhit the Isotopes, 10-6. Culberson, Farmer, Maggi and Wilson each had two hits.

Carlos Estevez (0-1) was charged with the loss for Albuquerque. He entered the eighth inning with two runners already on base before eventually giving up the grand slam.

Tuesday marked OKC’s second win this season when trailing after seven innings. The Dodgers have won four straight games, as well as seven of the last eight and nine of the last 11.

In other recent professional baseball news:

Smoker recalled to Majors by Mets NEW YORK

— Hansel Robles’ struggles came on suddenly and without warning. But they quickly grew deep enough for the Mets to make a change in their bullpen, optioning Robles to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. The team recalled left-hander and former Calhoun High star Josh Smoker to take Robles’ place.

In his last three relief outings, Robles allowed 12 runs over 2 2/3 innings, bloating his ERA from 1.42 to 6.23. That came after a run of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances for the right-hander.

“When he was going through his good streak, he was locating everything,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “He was locating his slider. He was locating his fastball to both sides of the plate. And right now, he’s doing neither.”

The Mets hope that at Las Vegas, Robles can improve in much the same way Smoker did. When the second-year lefty went through a similar rough patch earlier this season, the Mets optioned him to the Minors to stretch out as a starter — not because they thought he had a future in the rotation, but because they believed it would force him to stop relying so heavily on his four-seam fastball.

Both Collins and Smoker said the results — one earned run over 8 2/3 innings with Vegas — were evidence that he took the lesson to heart.

“Honestly, you want to be in the big leagues as long as you can — 15 years, 20 years, you want to be there as long as you can,” Smoker said. “But I think it was good for me. I wasn’t disappointed. I tried to go at it with an open mindset, and really try to go down there with a goal in mind, and that was just to improve all my stuff. I think I did that for the most part. The biggest thing was it was just a way for me to clear my mind and start fresh again.”

Prior to his demotion, Smoker pitched in 15 games for the Mets, compiling a 7.88 ERA with 10 walks and 20 strikeouts in 16 innings. There is a chance the Mets could use Smoker heavily in Saturday’s game against the Pirates, perhaps even starting him in place of struggling veteran Tommy Milone. But Smoker’s primary role will be as a reliever.

To that end, Smoker entered Tuesday’s game in the sixth inning, allowing a home run to Ryan Schimpf before retiring the next three batters in order — two via strikeout.

“I’m really excited,” Smoker said. “I missed these guys a lot. I’m here to pitch in the big leagues. That’s what everybody’s goal is. That’s what everybody’s dream is. So to be back up here is really all I can ask for.”