Wieland's Gem Helps Dodgers Clobber Zephyrs

Joe Wieland fired seven scoreless innings and the Oklahoma City Dodgers offense piled up nine runs and 15 hits to open their series against the New Orleans Zephyrs with 9-0 victory Tuesday night at Zephyr Field.

Wieland (8-5) tied his season high with seven innings, scattering six hits. He did not allow a walk and struck out seven batters, marking his highest strikeout total since his first start of the season on April 13 against Nashville.

Chris Hatcher and Danny Coulombe held the Zephyrs (51-66) scoreless over the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, as the Dodgers (69-47) pitched their seventh shutout of the season.

Although New Orleans finished with seven hits, the Dodgers pitching staff held the Zephyrs 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Only one Zephyrs baserunner advanced to third base.

The nine-run margin of victory was the largest of the season for the Dodgers.

At the plate, the Dodgers racked up nine runs after scoring four or fewer in runs in each of their previous six games, as well as in eight of their previous nine games. Six runs scored with two outs, and six players finished with multi-hit games.

In his first game back in an Oklahoma City uniform, former RedHawk Ronny Torreyes led the Dodgers with three hits. Kyle Jensen collected four RBI, tying his season high.

After the first two batters of the first inning each flied out, the Dodgers had five straight batters reach base en route to scoring three times. Austin Barnes put OKC in front with a RBI single, and two batters later, Jensen hit a two-run double with bases loaded.

The Dodgers then had three straight batters reach base with one out in the third inning, capped with a RBI single by Corey Seager to make it 4-0.

The Zephyrs had their best chance to get on the board in the fourth inning, notching three straight hits with one out to load the bases. However, Wieland got Johnatan Solano to hit into an inning-ending double play, keeping the Dodgers up by four runs.

The OKC offense reemerged in the latter innings, scoring five runs over the final three frames. The Dodgers added a run in the seventh on a RBI single by Scott Schebler. Schebler reached base four times, collecting two hits with two walks.

In the eighth, Elliot Johnson roped a pinch-hit RBI double and later scored a sacrifice fly by Torreyes. The Dodgers finished the scoring in the ninth inning. Jensen hit a two-run homer off former OKC Dodgers pitcher Chris Reed for his 15^th dinger of the season.

Zephyrs starting pitcher Robert Morey took the loss. Morey (2-4) allowed four runs and seven hits, with three walks and one strikeout, over five innings.