Mora hoping hit helps fulfill dream

Staff Writer amoseley@oklahoman.com

Everything was set up perfectly for Angelo Mora.

The Oklahoma City Dodgers were on a ninegame home losing streak, and Mora had a chance to end it.

Mora, OKC’s third baseman, approached the plate in the eighth inning with two outs and the bases loaded. OKC was down 5-4 to the Round Rock Express and Mora was 0 for 2 on the night.

But Mora was confident walking up to the plate. There were no nerves. He just planned on delivering for his team.

“I was focused because I knew how important that at-bat was for the team,” Mora said through a translator.

Mora hit a shot to shallow right field as two runners came across home plate to give the Dodgers their first lead of the series.

“I was just trying to hit the ball and make a play for the team,” Mora said. “I wanted that hit so bad.”

As he stood on second base after the hit, Mora clapped his hands as he yelled in excitement.

The hit not only gave the Dodgers the 6-5 lead, but for Mora it gave him a boost of confidence.

Over his last 10 games, Mora has a batting average of .152, well below his season average of .277 with OKC.

He hasn’t been doing anything differently. In fact, he’s liked the pitches he’s seen at the plate.

“(The past 10 games), I felt good because I was having good at-bats,” Mora said. “I was hitting the ball well and some of it was just bad luck.”

This is Mora’s second time being in Triple-A. Last year, Mora spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies top affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs.

He appeared in 27 games for the Ironpigs, spending most of last year with the Phillies' Double-A club.

Mora’s happy with where he’s at in his career, but he wants more.

Like every player in the minor league, Mora is just trying to work his way up to the majors. It’s been a dream of his since he was a kid growing up in the Dominican Republic.

So, his most recent hit meant a little more. He sees his dream coming true. He’s hoping it will put him on a hot streak, so he can finally fulfill his childhood dream.

“I’ve been working really hard and putting in a lot of effort,” Mora said. “I’ve been making those little adjustments, and I’m just ready for the big leagues.”