Dodgers Earn Series Split With Rainiers With 6-4 Win

<p>O&rsquo;Koyea Dickson's three-run homer in the eighth pushed OKC to a 6-4 win and a series split with Tacoma on Thursday night.</p>

Friday, July 22nd 2016, 10:52 am

By: News 9


O’Koyea Dickson delivered a three-run home run in the eighth inning to guide the Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 6-4 win against the Tacoma Rainiers Thursday night at Cheney Stadium in a back-and-forth series finale between the teams.

With the Dodgers trailing, 4-3, Dickson hit his 11th home run of the season to give Oklahoma City the lead for good, marking the fifth lead change of the night.

Oklahoma City (55-42) won the final two games of the series against the Rainiers to leave Tacoma with a split in the four-game series between the teams.

The victory gave the Dodgers back-to-back wins in Tacoma for the first time since May 26-27, 2010, as they wrapped up an eight-game road trip out west against Pacific Conference opponents.

The Dodgers took the game’s first lead in the third inning.

James Ramsey led off with a double to center field and Brandon Hicks followed with a single. Later with runners at second and third base and one out, Micah Johnson hit an infield RBI single for a 1-0 Oklahoma City lead.

Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart retired the first 10 Tacoma batters he faced in the game, including four strikeouts, until Guillermo Heredia hit a one-out single in the fourth inning.

Heredia then scored to tie the game, 1-1, on a RBI triple by Stefen Romero. A RBI single from D.J. Peterson followed to give the Rainiers a 2-1 advantage in the fourth inning.

The Dodgers regained the lead in the sixth inning.

Drew Maggi led off the inning with a single. A two-run homer to right field by Will Venable followed to put the Dodgers in front, 3-2. The home run was Venable’s first of the season with the Dodgers.

Stewart pitched six innings, holding the Rainiers to two runs and six hits with one walk and five strikeouts before being replaced by reliever Sam LeCure to open the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Rainiers (55-42) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead once again.

Rob Brantly led off the inning with a double for Tacoma and Patrick Kivlehan followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Jesus Sucre.

Ryan Strausborger and Tyler Smith then connected on back-to-back RBI singles for a 4-3 Rainiers lead.

Daniel Robertson drew a one-out walk to load the bases for the Rainiers still with one out in the seventh inning.

Heredia then stepped up to bat and hit a liner to first baseman Rob Segedin, who caught the ball and doubled Robertson off first base to complete an unassisted double play and end the inning.

The Dodgers rallied with two outs in the eighth inning to regain the lead.

Tacoma reliever Blake Parker entered the game with two outs and no runners on. Segedin singled and Corey Brown followed with a double to put two runners on base for Dickson, who hit a three-run homer to left-center field to put the Dodgers ahead, 6-4.

The Rainiers threatened in the bottom of the eighth. Romero led off with a double and advanced to third base on a one-out single by Brantly.

With runners at the corners, Dodgers reliever Jacob Rhame got the next two batters to strike out and ground out to end the inning and preserve the Dodgers’ two-run advantage.

LeCure (5-2) was credited with the win for the Dodgers and Matt West retired all three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn his fifth save of the season.

Tacoma starting pitcher Jarrett Grube held the Dodgers to one run and five hits, with five strikeouts and no walks in a no decision. Parker (1-2) was charged with the loss for the Rainiers, giving up the three-run homer by Dickson.

The Dodgers finished their road trip with a 3-5 record and next return home to Oklahoma City to open a four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs, starting at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Fireworks are scheduled to follow the game, presented by True Sky Credit Union.

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