Toles, OKC bats on fire in home opener

The Oklahoma City Dodgers opened their first home stand of the year with a big bang, while Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes were left starved for offense.

Player of the day

A victim of roster machinations, Andrew Toles could have sulked back to AAA. Instead, he is making it difficult to hold him back, going 4-for-6 in Oklahoma City’s onslaught on Round Rock. Toles led the Dodgers with five RBI, and added his fourth double on the season. He also swiped third for his first stolen base of the season. Should the outfield offense continue to sputter, Toles’ hot bat looks ready to contribute again at the major league level.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City bats may not have come through for Walker Buehler in his first start, but they more than made up for it in a 19-1 clubbing of Round Rock (Rangers). Buehler held up his end once again, striking out six over five one-run innings. The bullpen, led by Adam Liberatore, pitched four scoreless innings in support of Buehler.

Every Dodger starter had a hand in the scoring, with Toles and Tim Locastro standing out. Locastro came a home run shy of the cycle in going 3-5 with four runs scored. Donovan Solano also had three hits.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers were off on Wednesday. Tulsa will play their home opener Thursday, with Caleb Ferguson scheduled to face the Frisco Rough Riders (Rangers).

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes were frustrated by Stockton Ports (Athletics) pitchers, striking out 17 times in a 5-3 defeat. Gavin Lux was the lone bright spot for the offense, going 3-4 with a run scored. Connor Wong and Jeren Kendall both struck out three times apiece, as Kendall’s contact woes continue to start the season.

Andrew Sopko took the loss, allowing three runs over 4 ¹⁄₃ innings, striking out five. Parker Curry also allowed a pair of runs in his two innings of work, striking out three.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons’ bats fell silent in a 4-1 loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers). Brayan Morales and Zack McKinstry each had a pair of hits, with McKinstry doubling and driving in the Loons sole run. Morales also had his seventh stolen base of the season.

Control plagued Marshall Kasowski in his first start. Kasowksi struck out four and held the Whitecaps hitless, though six walks led to two runs in just two innings of work. Loons pitchers allowed ten walks on the evening, with Andre Scrubb (two) and James Carter (two) also struggling to consistently find the strike zone.

Transactions

Class-A: Great Lakes received P Marshall Kasowski from Ogden and P Vinny Santarsiero from Tulsa, while sending P Zach Pop and P Alfredo Tavarez to the Ogden Roster.

Wednesday scores

Oklahoma City 19, Round Rock 1

Stockton 5, Rancho Cucamonga 2

West Michigan 4, Great Lakes 1

Thursday schedule

9:00 a.m.: Great Lakes (Riley Ottesen) at West Michigan (Dane Myers)

5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Manny Banuelos) vs. Round Rock (Yohander Mendez)

5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Caleb Ferguson) vs. Arkansas (Collin Wiles)

7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Jordan Sheffield) vs. Inland Empire (Jose Suarez)