Dodgers Open Second Half of Season With Loss

After a tremendous first half of the season, Oklahoma City followed the All-Star Break with a bit of a dud, falling to the Round Rock Express, 9-3 Thursday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The Dodgers (56-33) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but the Express took the lead for good in the third inning and outscored Oklahoma City, 9-1, the rest of the way.

The Dodgers dropped a fourth straight home game as the teams opened a four-game series in front of a crowd of 6,676.

Oklahoma City took a two-run lead in the second inning as Andy Wilkins led off the bottom of the frame with a double to right. Austin Barnes followed and drew a walk. Both players came home on a two-run triple to right from Scott Schebler for a 2-0 Dodgers lead. Schebler returned to action Thursday after being placed on the Disabled List July 4 with a hand injury.

The Express (53-37) answered with four runs in the top of the third inning.

Round Rock’s Beamer Weems cut the lead in half with a RBI double to left. He then scored on a RBI double by Ryan Strausborger to knot the game, 2-2.

The Express took a 4-2 lead on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Field and two-out RBI single by Ed Lucas.

In the top of the fourth inning, Hanser Alberto singled, stole second then advanced to third on a throwing error on Oklahoma City catcher Barnes. He scored on a RBI single by Weems to put the Express in front, 5-2. Strausborger followed with a RBI single to put the Express ahead, 6-2.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Barnes led off with a walk, then scored when O’Koyea Dickson hit a RBI single to cut Round Rock’s lead to 6-3.

In the seventh inning, Michael Choice put Round Rock in front, 7-3, with a RBI single. The Express loaded the bases later in the inning and went ahead, 8-3, on a RBI single by Weems.

Round Rock tacked on a run in the top of the ninth inning with a RBI double from Choice, who tied with Weems for a game-high three hits.

The Dodgers committed a season-high four errors in the game.

Starting pitcher Joe Wieland (5-4) was charged with the loss for Oklahoma City. He allowed six runs (four earned) and six hits over four innings. He issued two walks and struck out three.

Round Rock reliever Ross Wolf (8-5) got the win for the Express. He held the Dodgers to one run and three hits over four innings after starter Nick Martinez exited the game after two innings.

The two teams are back at it again at 7:05 p.m. Friday at The Brick.