OKC Dodgers Blast Past Express

After sweeping a seven-game homestand, the Oklahoma City Dodgers hit the road and started off with an 8-4 win over the Round Rock Express Tuesday night at Dell Diamond to extend the team’s winning streak to nine games.

The Dodgers (10-1) hit four home runs while scoring at least eight runs for the sixth time in the last eight games. Rob Segedin launched a two-run blast over the second deck in left in the third inning. Tim Locastro, Henry Ramos and Alex Burg each delivered solo shots in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

OKC took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Alex Verdugo RBI single. Segedin’s mammoth blast pushed the lead to 3-0.

Leading 3-1 in the fourth inning, Rocky Gale lined two-run single with two out, making it a 5-1 advantage.

With the offense backing him, Bañuelos (2-0) delivered six innings of one-run ball for a second consecutive start. The Express nicked the lefty for six hits, but he issued just one walk with a season-high seven strikeouts.  

Down by four in the fifth inning, the Express (3-10) threatened by loading the bases with one out for Willie Calhoun, but Bañuelos induced an inning-ending double play.

Locastro’s solo home run in the top of the seventh inning gave the Dodgers their largest lead of the night. However, the Express collected five straight hits with two outs in the bottom of the inning to pull within two runs. The tying runs were on base with Destin Hood at the plate, but Guillermo Moscoso struck him out to end the inning.

Ramos belted his third home run in the last five games in the eighth, giving him 14 RBI during that stretch. Burg connected on his first homer of the season in the ninth.

Edward Paredes closed the game out by facing the minimum over two innings. He allowed one walk with one strikeout en route to earning his first save.

Round Rock starting pitcher Yohander Mendez (0-3) tossed a season-high 6.0 innings, but was defeated by the Dodgers for a second straight start. He allowed five runs (four earned) and six hits, with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Dodgers and Express will have a quick turnaround, playing next at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday at Dell Diamond. Live coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.