Dodgers Can't Close Out Sky Sox, Lose In Extras

<p>The Colorado Springs Sky Sox rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and then won in the tenth against the Oklahoma City Dodgers.</p>

Monday, August 1st 2016, 12:32 pm

By: News 9


The Colorado Springs Sky Sox rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and then won on a RBI single by Rene Garcia in the 10th inning, capping a wild 9-8 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers Sunday afternoon at Security Service Field.

Trailing 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Sky Sox scored three times, but were aided by the Dodgers along the way. Yadiel Rivera led off and sent a routine grounder to third base. Drew Maggi fielded the ball, but he lost his footing right before he threw to first base, allowing Rivera to reach. Garcia then came up next and sent a grounder toward the middle. Dodgers shortstop Brandon Hicks dove and the ball deflected off the tip of his glove, putting runners at the corners.

Pinch-hitter Eric Young, Jr. followed with a weak grounder to third. Maggi fielded the ball, but instead of throwing to first or second base, he tried to tag Rivera. Both dove toward third base at the same time, but Rivera was safe, thus loading the bases.

Randy Choate entered the game for the Dodgers to face Kyle Wren. Choate’s 3-2 pitch appeared to catch most of the plate and be strike three, but umpire Billy Cuhna deemed it ball four, and the bases-loaded walk made it 8-6.

The Dodgers (62-45) made another pitching change and brought in Matt West, and Orlando Arcia lined a two-run single to left field to tie the game. A sacrifice bunt by Nate Orf then moved the runners to second and third.

West intentionally walked Garrett Cooper to load the bases, setting up a matchup against Garin Cecchini. On the first pitch, Cechinni to hit a grounder back to West, who started an inning-ending double play, sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, the Dodgers put two runners on with one out. After pinch hitter Shawn Zarraga struck out, a wild pitch moved the runners both into scoring position. However, Damien Magnifico (6-6) struck out Maggi to keep the game tied.

In the home half of the inning, Michael Reed drew a leadoff walk against Jacob Rhame (1-7). After a sac bunt by Rivera moved Reed into scoring position, Garcia sent a line drive to right-center field for the game-winning hit.

Garcia’s walk-off winner was the sixth lead change of the game and gave Colorado Springs (51-54) their league-leading fifth win when trailing after eight innings. Sunday marked the third time in the Dodgers’ last 10 road games they entered their opponent’s final at-bat with the lead, but ultimately lost. It was also the eighth walk-off loss of the season for OKC and their second loss when leading after eight innings (51-2).

One day after the Dodgers took advantage of several Sky Sox miscues, the roles were reversed Sunday. The Dodgers tied their season high with four errors, leading to three unearned runs.

Dodgers outfielder Corey Brown homered twice, totaling a season-high five RBI. Each of his two blasts gave the Dodgers the lead, and it was his second multi-homer game of season.

Heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dodgers had just taken a 4-3 lead on a three-run homer by Brown. But the Sky Sox regained the lead, scoring two runs without collecting a hit or the ball leaving the infield.

Zach Walters committed errors on each of the first two plays of the inning. The Sky Sox eventually scored on a RBI groundout by Cooper and a wild pitch by Logan Bawcom.

Brown put the Dodgers back in front in the eighth inning. With a runner on base, Brown launched the first pitch from Austin Ross to right field to give OKC a 6-5 lead. Brown has homered in three straight games, swatting four home runs.

On the very next pitch, Hicks connected on a solo home run to left field for his fourth homer of the season.  It was the third time this season the Dodgers have hit back-to-back home runs, with Brown going deep on the front end each time.

Walters added a RBI single in the top of the ninth to give the Dodgers a 8-5 advantage.

The Dodgers wasted no time to open the scoring. With one out in the first inning, Walters doubled to left-center field. Will Venable followed with a RBI single to give OKC a 1-0 lead.  Venable has picked up at least one RBI in 10 of his last 11 games, totaling 15 RBI during that time.

The Sky Sox tied the game in the third inning. With Wren at second base and two out, Arcia sent a ground ball near the third base line. Maggi fielded the ball, but his throw to first base was low. O’Koyea Dickson could not dig out the throw and deflected the ball straight up into the air. As a result, Arcia was safe and Wren scored from second base to make it 1-1.

The Sky Sox did not need any help to take the lead in the fourth inning. Orf led off with a solo home run to make it 2-1. Later with none on and two out, Reed doubled and Rivera followed with a RBI single.

The game stayed 3-1 in favor of the Sky Sox until the sixth inning. Sky Sox starting pitcher Wily Peralta had retired 10 of 11 batters until he walked Venable with one out in the inning. After Dickson singled, Brown sent a three-run homer to center field to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead.

With the loss, the Dodgers finished July with a 19-8 record. The defeat prevented them from winning 20 games in one month for the first time since August 2006.

The Dodgers look to bounce back Monday night at 8:05 p.m. Central time against the Sky Sox.

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