Dodgers Score Six In First, Cruise To Win

The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored six runs in the first inning, providing more than enough offense in a 6-1 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers Saturday night at Werner Park.

The Dodgers (22-7) got off to a flying start, piling up six runs in the first inning, marking their highest-scoring inning of the season. OKC loaded the bases with none out, and O'Koyea Dickson opened the scoring with a RBI single. Buck Britton followed with a bases-loaded walk, and Austin Barnes made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.

With two runners on and two outs, Scott Schebler connected on his sixth home run of the season—an opposite-field shot to left field that pushed the lead to 6-0.

The score remained 6-0 through five innings, as OKC Dodgers starting pitcher Randy Fontanez shut down the Omaha offense, limiting the Storm Chasers to just one hit.

Fontanez (1-0) continued his hot start since joining Oklahoma City, going a season-high five innings, allowing no walks with four strikeouts. He retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced, including the last nine straight.

In three starts with the Dodgers, Fontanez has thrown 13 scoreless innings while yielding just five hits and has held opponents 0-for-17 with runners on base.

Omaha broke through in the sixth inning. Jose Martinez led off with a double, and two batters later, Whit Merrifield brought Martinez home with a RBI groundout.

The Dodgers threatened to add to their lead in the eighth inning after loading the bases with one out, but Barnes hit into an inning-ending double play.

The Storm Chasers put the first two men of the ninth inning on base, but Ryan Buchter retired the next three batters to close out the game. As a result, Buchter extended his scoreless streak to 11.2 innings to begin the season.

Omaha starting pitcher Christian Binford was done in by the rough first inning and took the loss for the Storm Chasers. Binford (1-4) was able to rebound and get through five innings, allowing six runs and five hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. After giving up the home run to Schebler, Binford retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced.