James Tibbs III kept padding a monster season on Saturday, but Oklahoma City still walked away with a road loss after the El Paso Chihuahuas blew the game open with seven runs in the sixth inning.
The Comets had the early punch. Oklahoma City scored five times in the third, and the big swing came from Tibbs, who was designated to hit and came through with a three-run homer. It was his 30th home run of the season, leaving him second in the Pacific Coast League.
Tibbs had already separated himself in a major way this year, becoming the first player in the PCL with at least 100 runs, 100 RBI and 100 walks since Greg Brock, the Dodgers first base prospect for Albuquerque in 1982.
Noah Miller opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the third, and it was his second straight start with a home run.
Ryan Fitzgerald added another productive night, going 3 for 3 and driving in his 101st run of the season. He was at third base on Saturday, and his 171 hits are the most by an Oklahoma City player in the Bricktown era, which began in 1998.
The other notable development came with Mike Sirota, who made his Triple-A debut after being promoted to Oklahoma City on Friday. The Dodgers outfield prospect began the year at High-A Great Lakes, moved up to Tulsa in May, and posted a .450 on-base percentage in Double-A before joining the Comets after Tulsa’s season ended. On Saturday, he batted third and played right field.
Sirota finished with a double and three walks, giving him 100 on the season across the three levels. He scored his 100th run after drawing his second walk in the fifth inning, and he has played 107 games.
Sirota became the seventh Dodgers minor leaguer to reach 100 runs this season, joining Zach Ehrhard (118 runs with Oklahoma City), Tibbs (109), Eduardo Quintero (108 runs for Great Lakes and Tulsa), Josue De Paula (106 runs for Tulsa, not counting his six runs so far with the Dodgers), Midwest League MVP Charles Davalan (103), and Mairo Martinus (103 with Ontario and Great Lakes).
Tibbs (108) and Sirota (100) are the only Dodgers minor leaguers with triple-digit walks this season.
In Other News...
Kyle Tucker Just Gave Dodgers Fans A Scare They Couldnt Ignore
Kyle Tucker gave Dodgers fans a brief jolt during the game against the Giants when he fouled a pitch off his right knee and had to leave the field. The Dodgers trainer called the move precautionary, and Tucker was later seen on the bench smiling even as he favored the knee, which helped calm the immediate worry around a player who has been swinging the bat well lately.
For a Dodgers team looking to keep its lineup humming, any moment involving Tucker is going to draw attention. His recent offensive run has made him one of the more reliable presence in the lineup over the last 15 games, so even a short scare like this was enough to put the focus on his status and how the knee responds once the adrenaline fades. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Chasing Giants Sweep With A New Kyle Tucker Concern
The Dodgers entered Sunday still managing the aftermath of Kyle Tucker leaving Saturdays game early with a shin injury, and they chose to keep him out of the lineup as they try to finish off a sweep against the Giants. Jack Dreyer is taking the ball for Los Angeles, with San Francisco countering with left-hander Matt Wilkinson, while Mookie Betts leads off and Freddie Freeman is in the cleanup spot.
For a Dodgers club trying to keep its momentum rolling, Tuckers availability is the new subplot to watch. His absence changes the look of the lineup for now, and the timing adds a little extra tension to a game already carrying the weight of a potential sweep, especially with the club still waiting to see how he responds after the injury. [Read more 🡒]
Blake Snells Status Just Put Dodgers In A Tough Late-Season Spot
Blake Snells latest setback has put the Dodgers in a delicate place as the season winds down. Snell left his last start after just one inning because of left groin tightness, and while he has resumed throwing from 90 feet as part of his recovery, the club is still trying to be careful with how it handles him this late in the year. Manager Dave Roberts has said he hopes Snell can make another start before the regular season ends, but the Dodgers are clearly balancing that optimism against the bigger picture.
The timing is what makes it tricky, especially with a series against the Padres coming up and playoff positioning still in play. Los Angeles wants to have Snell available without forcing the issue, and every decision now has postseason implications attached to it. Even with some encouraging signs in his recovery, the Dodgers are left waiting on whether they can get one more meaningful start out of him before October arrives. [Read more 🡒]