The Oklahoma City Dodgers went into Wednesday’s game on a two game losing streak. On Tuesday the Dodgers squandered a five-inning / two-hit effort by Jose De Leon in his first appearance of the season. Even though they out hit the New Orleans Zephyrs 7-4, they came away with a 2-0 loss when the Zephyrs scored two runs in the seventh inning.

In an early afternoon game on Wednesday, left-hander Julio Urias started for the Dodgers and picked up where the right-handed De Leon had left off on Tuesday.

Urias pitched six innings with but one minor blemish – he gave up no hits while walking none and striking out six. The lone blemish was on an error by shortstop Zach Walters in the fifth inning allowing New Orleans first baseman Dan Black to reach first base. Black was quickly erased at second base on a force play when Zephyrs third baseman Matt Juengel grounded out to Dodgers second baseman Micah Johnson. On his fourth throw to first base without going to the plate, Urias picked off Juengel. During his six innings Urias faced the minimum of 18 hitters, threw 77 pitches, 52 of them for strikes. He also kept the ball out of the air by inducing seven ground outs.

Urias did not allow a hit in his six innings of work on Wednesday afternoon while striking out six.
(Photo courtesy of okcdodgers.com)

Right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla relieved Urias in the seventh inning and although he walked two hitters in the inning, he went into the ninth inning still nursing a no-hitter. Austin Nola, the Zephyrs first batter in the ninth inning, lined a 2-1 pitch into left field for the Zephyrs first and only hit of the game. Bonilla got the next batter to pop up and was relieved by Chin-hui Tsao who induced two ground outs to end the game.

The Dodgers came away with a 5-0 win on 12 hits. Micah Johnson, Austin Barnes and Corey Brown each had two hits while catcher Jack Murphy drove in two runs. Murphy’s solo home run in the third inning off Paul Clemens proved to be the only run Julio Urias needed to secure his third win of the season.

For the third time this season the OKC Dodgers entered the ninth inning with a no-hitter on the line and for the third time they also gave up a hit in the ninth inning. Although it is a small consolation, it was not a cheap hit.

Apparently Twitter lit up with posters moaning that Urias should have been kept in the game at least until he gave up a hit. Oklahoma’s play-by-play announcer Alex Freedman reminded his watching audience that Urias is still 19-years of age and his innings/pitches are being carefully monitored. There will other days at a more appropriate time for the youngster to chase the elusive no-hitter.

The Dodgers meet the New Orleans Zephyrs again on Thursday planning to knot the four game series at two. Right-hander Zach Lee will start for the Dodgers in the 5:05 pm PT start at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Lee will be looking to rebound from his disastrous start in which he gave up 10 earned runs to the Omaha Storm Chasers on April 28th. Alex Freedman said that knowing Zach Lee and his work ethic he expects Lee to indeed rebound nicely on Thursday.