Dodgers Drop Home Opener, 5-3

The Oklahoma City Dodgers opened the home portion of their schedule Friday, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Nashville Sounds in front of a sellout crowd of 10,244 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Oklahoma City (5-4) took a 3-1 lead in the third inning before allowing four answered runs by the Sounds on the way to a third straight loss.

The Sounds (4-5) took a quick lead in the first inning as the teams opened a four-game series.

Tyler Ladendorf hit a lead-off single, then scored Nashville’s first run of the night when Chad Pinder followed with a RBI double.

The Dodgers took the lead in the bottom of the third inning on four hits.

Right fielder Alex Hassan led off with a single to left field, but was put out trying to advance to second base. Lars Anderson and Jack Murphy followed with back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second base.

Then with two outs, OKC second baseman Micah Johnson reached on a missed catch error by Nashville second baseman Joey Wendle, who was unable to collect a toss from shortstop Chad Pinder on a force-out attempt. The error allowed the Dodgers to load the bases and extend the inning.

Dodgers designated hitter Jose Tabata stepped up to the plate next and hit a bases-clearing double on a fly ball to center field to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead on three unearned runs.

Nashville chipped away at Oklahoma City’s lead in the fifth inning.

The Sounds drew back-to-back walks in the top of the frame before a single by Chad Pinder brought home Bruce Maxwell to cut OKC’s lead to 3-2.

Nashville went ahead on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with back-to-back homers.

A home run by Nashville’s Renato Nunez landed in the Dodgers’ bullpen in the left-center field to tie the game, 3-3, in the sixth inning. Matt Olson followed with a home run over the high wall and onto the concourse in right field for a 4-3 Sounds lead.

Before Friday, the only other home runs allowed by the Dodgers this season also came back-to-back April 13 at Memphis.

A sacrifice fly from Nunez gave the Sounds a 5-3 advantage in the eighth inning, bringing home Jake Smolinski who led off the frame with a single.

Nashville starting pitcher Zach Neal (1-1) earned the win, allowing three unearned runs and six hits over five innings with three strikeouts. Angel Castro pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of 2016.

Dodgers pitcher Jeremy Kehrt pitched five frames Friday, allowing two runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in his second start of the season. Red Patterson (0-1) followed Kehrt and was charged with the loss and blown save. He allowed two runs, both on solo home runs, and three hits in the sixth inning as he played his first game since the 2014 season. Patterson missed the entire 2015 season due to injury.

Friday’s loss dropped Oklahoma City’s record in home openers to 7-12 as the Dodgers have now lost five consecutive home openers.

The Dodgers continue their season-opening homestand with a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday against the Sounds at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The current homestand continues through Friday, April 22.

Tickets are available through the box office on S. Mickey Mantle Drive, by calling (405) 218-1000, or by ordering throughokcdodgers.com.