Bolsinger Dominant As Dodgers Top El Paso

Mike Bolsinger struck out 11 batters over seven scoreless inning and collected a RBI single to lead the Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 4-1 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas Saturday night at Southwest University Park.

Bolsinger’s 11 strikeouts are the most by an Oklahoma City Dodgers pitcher this season, and it marked the seventh double-digit strikeout game of his career. Bolsinger (3-3) scattered three singles with two walks. He held the Chihuahuas 0-for-9 with runners on base, including 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and did not allow a runner to advance to third base.

The game was scoreless after two innings. Leading off the third inning, O’Koyea Dickson homered for the second straight night. His solo shot to left field just eclipsed the porch atop the wall, and his 12th homer of the season made it 1-0. Buck Britton followed with a double, but he would eventually be stranded at third base.

The Dodgers (81-53) caught a couple of breaks and added to their lead in the fifth inning. Scott Schebler led off the inning and hit a ground ball down the first base line that went under the glove of El Paso first baseman Jake Goebbert. The play was ruled a double, and Schebler advanced to third on a wild pitch.

After Dickson struck out, the Chihuahuas (71-63) intentionally walked Britton. During Bolsinger’s at-bat, Britton was caught stealing second base for the second out. On a 3-2 pitch, Bolsinger sent a single through the right side of the infield to extend OKC’s lead to 2-0.

Between OKC and the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was just the second hit of the season for Bolsinger, who is now 2-for-42 at the plate in 2015. It was also his first RBI of the year.

The Dodgers doubled their lead in the eighth. Ronny Torreyes and Corey Seager started off the inning with back-to-back singles. On the next play, El Paso shortstop Hector Gomez committed an error, allowing Torreyes to score. Seager then scored on a double play, making it 4-0.

With Bolsinger out of the game, the Chihuahuas got on the board in the eighth inning. With runners at second and third with one out, Goebbert hit a RBI groundout. After Juan Jaime hit Gomez with a pitch to bring the tying run to the plate, Jaime struck out Rymer Liriano to end the inning.

The Chihuahuas threatened again in the ninth inning. Cody Decker led off with a strikeout, but Jason Hagerty followed with a single and Ramiro Pena doubled to right field.

With two men in scoring position and one out, OKC closer Juan Gonzalez struck out Casey McElroy and then got Hunter Renfroe to fly out and end the game. Gonzalez converted his second save of the series and 11th save of the season.

After allowing 25 runs the previous three games combined, the Dodgers pitching staff surrendered just one run and held El Paso 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers notched 14 strikeouts to tie their season high for a nine-inning game.

El Paso starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen (8-8) turned in seven strong innings, but took the loss. The Norman High School and University of Oklahoma product allowed two runs and five hits, with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Although the Dodgers won, the Iowa Cubs swept their doubleheader against Sacramento and the Omaha Storm Chasers also defeated Fresno. The Dodgers now lead Iowa by five games and Omaha by 5.5 games for first place in the American Northern Division.