Freeland homers for a second straight game, Avans continues his multi-hit barrage, plus a Midwest League honor for Wepf
The first three games of the final series of the season for Dodgers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City at the Salt Lake Bees (Angels) have included lopsided scores. The last two have gone OKC’s way, including a 9-3 win on Thursday night.
Shortstop Alex Freeland had a big night with three different run-scoring hits, including a solo home run that opened the scoring in the third inning.
Alex Freeland goes yard for a second straight game! pic.twitter.com/73Eu2V4ps7
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) September 20, 2024
Drew Avans, who broke Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Era (since 1998) hit record on Tuesday and had five hits on Wednesday, had three more hits on Thursday plus a walk and a run batted in. Avans has seven consecutive multi-hit games dating back to September 10, going 18-for-35 (.514) with four doubles and a home run during that time.
Oklahoma City used six pitchers to cover nine innings on Thursday, including non-40-man-roster bulk arms Jordan Lyles (two runs in 3⅔ innings) and Nick Ramirez (one run in one inning). So cross those two off the list for Friday’s likely pitching call-up to fill the TBA-sized hole in the rotation against the Rockies.
Award season
High-A postseason honors were announced by Minor League Baseball on Thursday, and Great Lakes right-hander Lucas Wepf was one of two relievers named to the Midwest League All-Star team. Wepf had a 1.84 ERA and eight saves in his 22 appearances with the Loons with 44 strikeouts and 10 walks in 29⅓ innings.
The 24-year-old Canadian, signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent in 2022, was promoted to Double-A Tulsa on June 20, and on the season put up a 3.67 ERA in 43 games and 56⅓ innings, with 82 strikeouts (a 34.7-percent rate), 23 unintentional walks, and 13 saves.
Thursday score
Friday schedule
5:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jerming Rosario) at Salt Lake (Victor Mederos)
Rosario will make his Triple-A debut. The 22-year-old right-hander started the year in High-A Great Lakes and then made 16 starts in Double-A Tulsa. Between the two levels he has a 4.34 ERA with 115 strikeouts and 67 walks in 103⅔ innings.