Nashville, TN – The Oklahoma City Dodgers got another strong performance from a starting pitcher in a 5-1 win over the Nashville Sounds in front of 8,754 fans Saturday night at First Tennessee Park.
Right-hander Trevor Oaks allowed one run over eight innings and earned his first Triple-A win. Dodger starters have allowed only two earned runs in 19 innings over the first three games of the series.
Oaks struck out five and didn’t allow a run until Bruce Maxwell hit a solo homer in the fifth inning.
Sounds starter Jesse Hahn issued a one-out walk to Cole Figeroa in the fourth, then allowed a two-run homer to Zach Walters to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
Oaks had retired eight of the last nine batters he faced when Maxwell launched the first pitch he saw from him into The Band Box in deep right field to get Nashville on the board. It was the fourth home run of the season for Maxwell.
After the homer, Oaks went right back into a groove and set down the next nine batters he faced in order.
Jaycob Brugman lined a triple to the right-center gap with one out in the eighth but he was left stranded. Arismendy Alcantara hit a soft comebacker to Oaks for the second out, and Max Muncy struck out to end the inning.
Oaks started the ninth and was greeted by Renato Nunez who lined a single back up the middle. The right-hander was pulled after eight-plus innings in favor of reliever Matt West who shut down any hope of a late rally.
Hahn allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings of work and was hit with the loss. Brugman was the lone Sounds player to post a multi-hit game.
The series finale is set for Sunday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Zach Neal (6-1, 2.83) starts for Nashville against right-hander Ross Stripling (0-1, 3.38) for Oklahoma City. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling 615.690.4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com
