Dodgers Fall In Series Opener To Colorado Springs

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox won the first game of a pivotal five-game series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 5-1, Wednesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The Dodgers lead the American Northern Division and second-place Colorado Springs now trails the Dodgers by 7.5 games in the standings with 14 games remaining in the regular season.

The Sky Sox held the Dodgers to one run and seven hits as Oklahoma City returned home to open an eight-game homestand in front of a crowd of 3,932.

Colorado Springs (63-64) quickly took the lead in the first inning.

A sacrifice fly from former Oklahoma City Dodger Andy Wilkins put the Sky Sox ahead, 1-0.

Dodgers catcher Jack Murphy answered in the second inning with his third home run of the season. His solo shot landed in the Sky Sox bullpen in right field to tie the game, 1-1, but that would be Oklahoma City’s lone run of the night. Murphy later collected a single in the sixth inning to lead the Dodgers with two hits.

Lewis Brinson’s two-run double into left field in the third inning boosted Colorado Springs to a 3-1 advantage.

In his next at-bat in the fifth inning, Brinson singled to center field to bring home another run for Colorado Springs. He finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI for Colorado Springs.

The Sky Sox boosted their lead to 5-1 in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly from Nate Orf.

The Dodgers (72-58) lost a series opener for the fifth time in their last six series.

Colorado Springs reliever Austin Ross (6-2) entered the game in the fourth inning and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn the win.

The Sky Sox pitching staff racked up 15 strikeouts in the game, as Oklahoma City batters tied their season high for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

Dodgers pitcher Sam LeCure (5-5) made a spot start and went 4.1 innings. He allowed four runs and six hits, three walks and recorded five strikeouts in the loss. The start was his 12th of the season with the Dodgers and first since Aug. 1.

Pitcher Roy Merritt, who joined the Dodgers Wednesday from the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, held the Sky Sox to one run and four hits over 4.2 innings in his team debut. He did not issue a walk and recorded four strikeouts.

The Dodgers and Sky Sox continue their series at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.