Henry Ramos and Alex Verdugo homers give OKC seven straight wins

Oklahoma City continues their hot streak and Rancho Cucamonga was able to come back and win their third straight game. Tulsa mounted their own comeback but lost in the ninth inning.

But none of those teams had as tough a weekend as the Great Lakes Loons. The Loons had their three-game series postponed due to poor weather. In fact, they have not played any of their home games since Opening Day.

Player of the day

Several players were in consideration for Sunday’s Player of the Day award, Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong were right there as they both hit home runs that won or provided the winning runs for their teams.

Three Drillers homered including two for Connor Joe. DJ Peters homered and went 3-for-4.

But in the end, the award for Sunday’s Player of the Day goes to Henry Ramos, who not only went 4-for-5, he hit his second grand slam in the last three games.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead but then the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins) tied it in the eighth. The game went to extra-innings and after the Baby Cakes scored their a run, the Dodgers were able to put two runners on with no outs in the bottom of the tenth.

Alex Verdugo came up and sent the home crowd happy with three-run homer and OKC won 8-6, their seventh straight game and their second straight walk-off win.

The Dodgers early lead was provided by Henry Ramos who hit his second grand slam in his last three games. Ramos went 4-for-5 overall to pace the Dodger attack. Tim Locastro scored two runs and had three hits.

Zach Neal started for the Dodgers and he had a solid start. He went 5⅔ innings and gave up two runs and four hits. Daniel Hudson followed Neal and got out of the sixth inning. For Hudson, this was his first back-to-back games this season.

However, the next few Dodger relievers could not keep the Baby Cakes from scoring which a meant a tie game entering extra-innings. But for now, the magic ride continues at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and Dodger fans went home happy again.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers fought back to tie the game in the eighth inning but the Midland RockHounds (Athletics) scored once more and that was enough for a 10-9 win on Sunday. Daniel Corcino was able to get the first out but then Sean Murphy homered to give the RockHounds their winning run.

That home run should not take away from the Drillers response after trailing by as many as five runs. Picking up runs in nearly every inning, the Drillers pecked away but still trailed by three going to the bottom of the eighth.

With two on and one out, Errol Robinson doubled home a run. Following a strikeout, DJ Peters walked to load the bases. An infield single by Kyle Garlick was able to score two runs to tie the game. But the Drillers were unable to push the go-ahead run.

Yadier Alvarez started for the Drillers and he did not have a good start. In 2⅓ innings, Alvarez gave up five runs, four hits and walked three. Alvarez did strike out three. Shea Spitzbarth did not pitch much better as he gave up two runs and three hits in 1⅔ innings.

The Drillers did hit four home runs themselves, DJ Peters hit his third of the year and Drew Jackson hit his second home run of the season. Connor Joe hit two home runs to give him four homers in 2018.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes had a three-run lead before the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) scored seven times to lead by four going to the bottom of the seventh inning. Connor Wong and Rylan Bannon scored to make it a one-run game.

In the eighth, Gavin Lux doubled with one out and then Jeren Kendall walked with two outs. Wong, who had already hit a two-run homer and a double, drove the ball over the center-field fence to give the lead back to the Quakes.

The 66ers scored once in the ninth and had two runners on when Jake Yacinich lined out to Bannon to end the game and the Quakes held on for a 9-8 win.

Wong had a great game going 3-for-5 with a double and two home runs. He also started at second base for the first time this season. In his short time in professional baseball, Wong had only played behind the plate. But Wong had played shortstop in high school and he was also a third baseman and an outfielder as well as catcher in college.

Bannon had four hits, Cody Thomas and Donovan Casey each had two hits.

Dean Kremer started and pitch four innings. Kremer gave up three runs and five hits, he also had eight strikeouts against one walk. Nolan Long got the win, Stetson Allie struck out two but also allowed a run in the ninth. Evy Ruibal, who was just added to the Quakes, came in to get the final out. Ruibal got his first save.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons could do nothing but stay out of the cold as their weekend series against the Dayton Dragons (Reds) was postponed due to bad weather.

The Loons will make up those games when they travel to Dayton in May. No schedule has been announced yet.

Transactions

Triple-A: Los Angeles recalled infielder Breyvic Valera from Oklahoma City.

Class-A: Right-handed pitcher Evy Ruibal assigned to Rancho Cucamonga.

Sunday’s scores

Oklahoma City 8, New Orleans 6 (10)

Midland 10, Tulsa 9

Rancho Cucamonga 9, Inland Empire 8

Monday’s schedule

2:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Dennis Santana) vs. Midland (TBD)

5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Walker Buehler) vs. New Orleans (Zac Gallen)

6:35 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Andrew Sopko) at Lancaster [Rockies] (Matt Dennis)