Dodgers’ Cotton shuts down Memphis

Jharel Cotton could barely handle the anticipation of pitching against Memphis throughout the past five days.

The Redbirds roughed him up last Wednesday for seven runs, and Cotton was determined to prove that was a fluke.

He used an aggressive game plan on the mound Tuesday as he dominated Memphis over five innings during the Oklahoma City Dodgers’ 4-0 rain-shortened win at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in front of 3,828 fans.

“I had that in the back of my mind,” Cotton said. “I wanted to show them I wasn’t the pitcher that I was that faced them last time.”

The game was called following a 55-minute rain delay. Five innings had been completed.

Cotton struck out six and allowed just two hits in the five innings, using his fastball to set up hitters for his devastating changeup.

“They see fastball down, so when they think fastball and they swing over the changeup,” said Cotton, who struck out the side in the fourth inning.

Cotton is the ninth-best prospect in the Dodgers’ organization, according to Baseball America.

OFFENSE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

The Dodgers’ offense may have found its comfort zone. It pounded out seven total hits, including four extra-base hits.

“I think we’re just getting a little more comfortable and getting into routines,” first baseman

Rob Segedin said. “Being back home and able to put in extra work is a little bit of a factor.”

Segedin particularly has been hot at the plate the past two games. He went 2 for 3 Tuesday with a double. He now has five hits in his last seven at-bats.

“I made some adjustments when we got back home,” Segedin said. “I feel like I’m seeing the ball better than I was in the beginning.”

OKC (7-5) took a 1-0 lead in the second when

James Ramsey hit a run-scoring triple.

The Dodgers then tacked on another run in the fourth when Corey Brown doubled and scored on a single by Jose Tabata. Catcher Austin Barnes tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly from

Micah Johnson in the fifth. Segedin later scored on a single from Brown.

CRAWFORD ARRIVES WEDNESDAY

Veteran outfielder Carl Crawford is scheduled to join OKC for a rehab assignment Wednesday afternoon.

He told Los Angeles reporters he would be in OKC’s lineup after arriving Wednesday morning from Atlanta.

“Just hopefully he gets healthy,” OKC manager

Bill Haselman said. “I just expect him to do what he needs to do and get back to help the Dodgers.”

Crawford, 34, is recovering from a back injury he suffered early in the season.