Oklahoma City wins two games to keep playoff hopes alive

Yesterday’s rain out meant that Oklahoma City needed to win two games on Sunday to still have a chance to win their division. They got their wins and have given themselves a chance for that title.

Meanwhile wins for Tulsa, Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes as they get ready for one last regular season game before their postseason starts on Wednesday.

Player of the day

Will Smith picked the best time for his first home run as an Oklahoma City Dodger. With one out in the first extra-inning, Smith hit a two-run homer that would give the Dodgers the win. The Dodgers would go on to win their second Sunday game keep their division hopes alive.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers knew that they had to win two games on Sunday or else the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) would take the division. The Dodgers picked up their suspended game that tied 4-4 and won it 6-4 due to Will Smith’s two-run homer.

In the second game, the Dodgers hit four home runs and outlasted the Sky Sox 11-8. Henry Ramos, Edwin Rios, Jake Peter and Connor Joe drove the ball over the wall to account for eight of the Dodgers eleven runs.

Ramos went 5-for-6 with five runs batted in. Connor Joe scored four runs and walked three times in the leadoff spot.

The two wins put the Dodgers one half game behind the Sky Sox. This meant that the teams could still play two games tomorrow.

If the Dodgers win the first seven-inning game, a winner-take-all second seven-inning game will be played. If the Sky Sox win the first game, they win the division and the Dodgers will finish the 2018 season in second place.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers defeated the Springfield Cardinals 7-1 as Andrew Sopko, Austin Hamilton, Michael Boyle and Shea Spitzbarth combined to scatter seven hits and had 12 strikeouts.

Keibert Ruiz went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. Gavin Lux had two hits and he drove in three runs.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 14-1 on Sunday. In their last seven games against the 66ers, all wins, the Quakes have outscored them 80 to 22.

Cody Thomas and Jeren Kendall each homered. Kendall’s home run was the Quakes 200th homer of the season. This was the first time they had reached that number.

The Quakes had 14 hits and received nine walks from the 66ers. Thomas had three hits while Omar Estevez, Donovan Casey and Nick Yarnall each had two hits.

Max Gamboa pitched five scoreless innings to get his fourth win.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons came back to beat the South Bend Cubs 5-3 in their second to last regular season game. Trailing by two runs in the seventh inning, the Loons loaded the bases with one out.

Newly arrived Matt Cogen came up and doubled home all three runners. A 2018 30th round draft pick, Cogen had played 54 games at Ogden and he hit .316/.408/.553 with 26 extra-base hits including nine home runs.

Cogen would later score to give the Loons their fourth run of the inning.

Darien Nunez won his first game of the season and Devin Hemmerich recorded his second save with the Loons.

Pioneer-Rookie Ogden

The Raptors had an off-day on Sunday. Their final series of the regular season will be at Idaho Falls when they take on the Chukars (Royals) for four games.

Transactions

Triple-A: Oklahoma City activated right-handed pitcher Logan Bawcom from the temporarily inactive list. Los Angeles selected the contract of catcher Rocky Gale. Los Angeles recalled right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart.

Class-A: Great Lakes placed outfielder Josh McLain on the 7-day disabled list. Outfielder Matt Cogen assigned to Great Lakes from Ogden.

Rookie: Infielder Leonel Valera, right-handed pitchers Elio Serrano and Jose Martinez and outfielders Aldrich De Jongh and Jeremiah Vison assigned to Ogden from Arizona League Dodgers. Ogden placed right-handed pitcher Jesus Vargas on the 60-day disabled list.

Sunday’s scores

Oklahoma City 6, Colorado Springs 4 (8 innings - continuation of suspended game)

Oklahoma City 11, Colorado Springs 8

Tulsa 7, Springfield 1

Rancho Cucamonga 14, Inland Empire 1

Great Lakes 5, South Bend 3

Monday’s schedule

10:15 a.m.: Tulsa (Mitchell White) at Springfield (Evan Kruczynski)

11:05 a.m.: Great Lakes (TBD) vs. South Bend (Jeffrey Passantino)

11:30 a.m.: Oklahoma City (Zach Neal & TBD) at Colorado Springs (TBD & TBD)

2:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (TBD) vs. Inland Empire (Michael Santos)

3:00 p.m.: Ogden (Joel Inoa) at Idaho Falls [Royals] (TBD)