Colorado Springs Takes Down Dodgers

The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored three late runs, but were unable to overcome an early deficit in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

An opponent scored first on the Dodgers for the ninth time in the last 10 games as Oklahoma City dropped a fourth game in a row.

Friday also marked the fifth straight game that the Dodgers (67-46) allowed six or more runs.

With the win, Colorado Springs (46-65) took a 3-0 lead in the current five-game series against the Dodgers in front of a sellout crowd of 10,245.

A RBI single by Kyle Wren gave the Sky Sox a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Pete Orr came up to bat next and hit a two-run homer to center field to boost Colorado Springs to a 3-0 advantage.

Juan Centeno hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to put Colorado Springs in front, 4-0.

Oklahoma City’s Andy Wilkins hit a solo homer onto the berm past the visiting bullpen in right center field to cut the Sky Sox lead to 4-1 in the seventh.

Former RedHawk Domingo Santana quickly extended Colorado Springs’ lead in the top of the eighth inning when he hit a two-run homer to give the Sky Sox a 6-1 lead.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Wilkins hit a towering fly ball to deep center field that Colorado Springs center fielder Wren leapt to catch at the wall. Buck Britton, who led off the inning with a single, scored on what ended up being a sacrifice fly for Wilkins.

Austin Barnes then hit a grounder to Sky Sox third baseman Pete Orr, who was charged with a throwing error that allowed Darnell Sweeney to score and cut Colorado Springs’ lead to 6-3.

Starting pitcher Brent Suter (1-0) got the win for Colorado Springs, holding the Dodgers scoreless and to four hits through 6.0 innings. Jim Henderson earned his first save of the season.

Dodgers starting pitcher Zach Lee (8-4) was hit with the loss, allowing four runs and eight hits over 6.0 innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out three.

The first-place Dodgers now lead second-place Omaha by 4.5 games and third-place Iowa by five games in the American Northern Division standings after Iowa defeated Omaha, 4-0, Friday in Des Moines.

The Dodgers continue their series against the Sky Sox at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a Clayton Kershaw bobblehead, presented by City National Bank. Gates open at 6:05 p.m. Fireworks are also scheduled to follow the game.