Oklahoma City’s offense highlighted Sunday in the Dodgers minors, as did Zyhir Hope’s power-packed weekend for Tulsa.
Player of the day
Ryan Fitzgerald hit a grand slam on Sunday, part of a five-RBI day to continue his hot start to the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The infielder also doubled and had 11 hits in 27 at-bats (.407/.429/.667) during the six-game series.
Fitzgerald is hitting .388/.423/.582 to open the season, and leads the Pacific Coast League with 21 RBI in 15 games. Fitzgerald drove in runs in four of the last five games against Round Rock, and in addition to Sunday’s five RBI, he also had games of six, three, and three RBI earlier this year.
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Triple-A Oklahoma City
Zach Ehrhard hit the game-winning home run in the eighth inning in the Comets’ 12-11 win over the Round Rock Express (Rangers). While I want to say this was a classic Pacific Coast League game, it was the first Oklahoma City game this season in which both teams scored in double digits. Saturday came close with a 10-9 final score.
Ehrhard had three hits, his second three-hit game of the series, plus a walk. Jack Suwinski also had three hits, including a home run. James Tibbs III homered, and also walked twice. Tibbs and Noah Miller, who walked, have reached base in all 15 games this season.
Jackson Ferris allowed four runs in three innings in his second Triple-A start. Jerming Rosario faced five batters and all of them scored, two of them earned thanks to an error in the fourth inning. But the rest of the bullpen allowed just two runs in the final six innings, with eight strikeouts.
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Double-A Tulsa
Two big innings in a row lifted the Drillers to a fifth straight win over the Springfield Cardinals. One day after hitting a three-run shot for his first home run of the season, Zyhir Hope one-upped himself with a grand slam in the fourth inning on Sunday, part of a two-hit game for the outfielder.
Both Hope home runs have been hit to the opposite field.
Payton Martin started and pitched four scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Kyle Nevin had two hits, including an RBI double in the win. Kendall George singled, stole his sixth base of the season, and scored two runs.
High-A Great Lakes
One big inning turned the tide in the Loons’ road loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers).
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For the second start in a row, Christian Zazueta dominated the first three innings in scoreless fashion before running into trouble in the fourth. West Michigan got him for three singles and a walk in a three-run fourth to take the lead for good. That spoiled a budding strong outing for the right-hander, who struck out seven and walked one in his 3 2/3 innings.
Down three runs in the ninth inning, Nico Perez double and catcher Jesus Galiz drove in a pair with his second single of the game, but the Loons comeback fell just short.
Class-A Ontario
The series finale between the Tower Buzzers and Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners) was postponed after morning rain San Bernardino. The two teams will attempt to make up this game with a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 20, the next time Ontario is in town.
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Sunday scores
The week ahead
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Oklahoma City at Albuquerque (Rockies)
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Tulsa vs. Arkansas (Mariners)
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Great Lakes vs. Dayton (Reds)
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Ontario vs. Fresno (Rockies)
