Dodgers nip Redbirds to earn series split
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Oklahoma City snapped a two-game losing streak and earned a split of its fourgame series as the Dodgers defeated the Memphis Redbirds, 1-0, Thursday night at AutoZone Park.
The Dodgers got a strong pitching performance from starter Guillermo Moscoso, who tossed six scoreless innings and scattered six hits while fanning five and walking just one batter.
Pat Venditte pitched two scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win and improve to 2-0 on the season. Brian Schlitter earned his sixth save but not before pitching out of a jam in the ninth.
The first two batters against Schlitter reached on a single and an error, but Steve Baron then lined into an unassisted double play to Dodgers' first baseman Wes Darvill.
Memphis' Randy Arozarena then drew a walk, but Schlitter left the tying run stranded on third base by striking out Wilfredo Tovar to end the game.
The game was scoreless for seven innings until the Dodgers broke through with a single run in the eighth.
Darvill opened the inning with a ground ball single to right field. Rocky Gale followed with a line drive single to center. The two runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Logan Landon. Darvill then scored the only run of the game on a ground ball to first by Angelo Mora, who reached on a fielder's choice.
The Redbirds' Dakota Hudson pitched eight innings, allowed six hits and took the loss. He is now 3-1 on the season.
Oklahoma City (19-6) returns home Friday night to open a four-game series with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Memphis visits Oklahoma City for a four-game series on Tuesday.
Late Wednesday: Memphis 8, Dodgers 7
On Wednesday night, Oklahoma City pitching surrendered a season-high 16 hits as the Redbirds scored six two-out runs in an 8-7 win at AutoZone Park.
The teams combined for 15 runs, 27 hits, 10 walks, 23 strikeouts and four errors in a contest that lasted 3 hours, 19 minutes.
The Dodgers went 6-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left a season-high 13 runners on base.
Memphis reliever Sean Gilmartin (1-1) earned the win after allowing one unearned run and one hit over 2.1 innings. Dodgers reliever Brian Moran (1-1) took the loss.