Dodgers lose opener
The Memphis Redbirds defeated the Dodgers 4-2 in the first game of their Pacific Coast League playoff series. Game 2 was late Thursday at a soggy Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Oklahoma City didn’t bring its scorching-hot bats into the postseason and as a result, the Dodgers quickly found themselves in a hole in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. Three Memphis pitchers combined on a two-hitter and the Redbirds scratched out a pair of runs in their final at-bat to down Oklahoma City, 4-2, on Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in the opening game of the rain-delayed best-of-five series. The series had been scheduled to start Wednesday night, but heavy rain resulted in that game being rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Thursday. But more rain in the area Thursday meant the first seven-inning game didn’t begin until 7:30 p.m., about 2½ hours after the scheduled start.
Game 2 of the series didn’t start until about 10:30 p.m. Game 3 will be in Memphis on Friday night. The Dodgers won their final four regularseason games at Colorado Springs on Sunday and Monday, rolling up 40 runs and 53 hits in those wins as they edged the Sky Sox by a half-game to take the American Northern Division title. But Memphis starter Kevin Herget was masterful, striking out six and not allowing a hit until there were two outs in the fifth inning. That hit, a single up the middle by pinch-hitter Travis Taijeron, scored Jake Peter, who had walked and stole second base. It put Oklahoma City up 1-0. Memphis answered in the sixth on a two-run single to left field by Randy Arozarena, after Andrew Knizer walked and Max Schrock hit a bloop double to left. Edwin Rios tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to center field. But Oklahoma City reliever Joe Broussard (0-1) couldn’t keep the game tied, giving up consecutive one-out singles to Wilfredo Tovar and Rangel Ravelo before giving way to Brian Schlitter. Alex Mejia followed with a ground ball that Oklahoma City second baseman Jake Peter fielded, but his rushed throw home went wide, allowing Tovar to score. Lane Thomas’ fielder’s-choice groundout brought home Ravelo, putting the Redbirds up 4-2. Memphis reliever Giovanny Gallegos (1-0) struck out the side in the ninth. The Dodgers wasted a solid start from Daniel Corcina, who threw five shutout innings, allowing four hits.