Dodgers Fall In Regular Season Finale, Prepare For Playoffs

A trio of home runs wasn't enough as the Oklahoma City Dodgers lost 7-3 to the Memphis Redbirds on Monday afternoon in the regular season finale at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The Dodgers finished the regular season with an 86-58 record, establishing a new team record for most wins in one season during the modern era. The last Oklahoma City team with at least 86 wins was the 1965 Oklahoma City 89ers, who went 91-54.

Oklahoma City also finished the regular season with the PCL’s best record for the third time since joining the league in 1998 (also in 2005 and 2013). The Dodgers also have the most wins by a PCL team since Sacramento went 86-58 in 2012.

The Redbirds used three straight singles, capped with a RBI single by Jacob Wilson, to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning Monday.

Memphis scored five runs with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. The Redbirds loaded the bases for pitcher Kyle Hald, who lined a two-run single to right field for a 3-0 Redbirds advantage. Rafael Ortega followed with a two-run double to right field for a 5-0 Memphis lead.

Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Barlow then exited the game and reliever Juan Jaime took the mound. Dean Anna then hit a RBI single to left field for a 6-0 advantage for the Redbirds.

Oklahoma City’s Kyle Jensen belted his team-leading 20th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning off the LED board in left field to cut Memphis’ lead to 6-1.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Oklahoma City’s Ralph Henriquez hit his second home run of the season – a two-run shot over the Dodgers bullpen in left center field – to cut the Redbirds’ lead to 6-3.

Aledmys Diaz doubled to lead off the eighth inning for the Redbirds and scored on a sacrifice fly by Travis Tartamella for a 7-3 Memphis lead.

Hald (2-2) got the win on the mound for Memphis, allowing three runs and six hits over five innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out two. Redbirds relievers Justin Wright, Dean Kiekhefer and Sam Tuivailala held Oklahoma City scoreless the rest of the way.

Barlow (0-1) was charged with the loss in his Triple-A debut. He allowed six runs and seven hits over 3.2 innings. He walked three and recorded three strikeouts.

The Dodgers also set a few new single-season records since joining the PCL in 1998 as the regular season came to a close Monday. The Dodgers have allowed the fewest runs (608), allowed the fewest home run (89) and had the lowest batting average (.257) for an Oklahoma City squad since joining the league in 1998.

Oklahoma City won the American Northern Division title, its second division title in the last three seasons, and will open play in the best-of-five PCL American Conference Finals at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday against the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond. Game two will be at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Dell Diamond before the series shifts to Oklahoma City for the final three games, starting at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Games four and five will follow, if necessary, at 7:05 p.m. Saturday and at 2:05 p.m. Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Live coverage of Wednesday’s playoff game begins at 6:35 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app. Tickets for the Dodgers’ home playoff games are available through the box office on S. Mickey Mantle Drive, by calling (405) 218-1000, or ordering through okcdodgers.com.