Despite Pen’s Work, OKC Can’t Overcome First-Inning Deficit

April 16, 2024 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Oklahoma City Baseball Club News Release

The Oklahoma City Baseball Club held the Sacramento River Cats scoreless over the final eight innings Tuesday night, but were unable to overcome an early deficit in a 3-2 loss in the series opener between the teams at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Sacramento (11-5) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Casey Schmitt hit a three-run home run out to center field. Oklahoma City (10-6) scored its first run of the night in the fourth inning when Ryan Ward hit a fly ball to the warning track in left field that hit off the fielder’s glove and dropped for a RBI double. Oklahoma City loaded the bases in the eighth inning with two outs and Kevin Padlo drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to one run.

Of Note:

-Oklahoma City’s four-game winning streak came to an end as the team lost at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for just the second time this season. OKC is now 5-2 at home to begin 2024.

-Ryan Ward picked up his 14th RBI in the last seven games, finishing the night 1-for-4 with a double and RBI. Over the seven-game stretch, Ward is 8-for-27 with seven extra-base hits and 14 RBI. Eight of his 11 total hits this season have gone for extra bases.

-Pitcher Hyun-il Choi (0-1) started and made his Triple-A debut. He pitched 4.2 innings and allowed three runs and five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Choi allowed a three-run home run in the first inning then went on to hold the River Cats scoreless over the remainder of his outing, which was his second appearance above High-A. He threw 78 pitches (49 strikes) and was charged with the loss…OKC relievers Stephen Gonsalves, Michael Petersen and Kevin Gowdy combined to close the game with 4.1 scoreless innings.

-Miguel Vargas drew a walk and has reached base in each of his team’s first 16 games this season – the only player in the PCL to do so. The on-base streak is his longest since a season-best 19-game on-base streak July 14-Aug. 4, 2023.

-Trey Sweeney picked up a hit to extend his on-base streak to 15 games, as he has now reached base safely in each of his first 15 Triple-A games.

-Jonathan Araúz has hit safely in seven straight games, going 7-for-28.

-After scoring a combined 37 runs over the previous four games, OKC was held to two runs Tuesday, marking just the third time this season OKC has scored fewer than three runs in a game.

Next Up: Oklahoma City continues its series against Sacramento with an 11:05 a.m. game…