The Oklahoma City Comets closed out their regular season with a 2-1 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres).
Center fielder Alek Thomas had two of Oklahoma City’s eight hits, and his triple drove in the winning run in the eighth inning, allowing the Comets to finish at 89-50, the best record in the Pacific Coast League.
Player of the day
Outfielder Zach Ehrhard hit his 30th double of the season and walked. He scored both runs for Oklahoma City on Sunday, padding his PCL-leading total to 120 runs scored on the season. Ehrhard finished his season hitting .291/.400/.472 with 20 home runs, 28 steals, and 94 walks.
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Erhard’s 120 runs scored are the most by a Dodgers minor leaguer since Albuquerque Dukes outfielder Lemmie Miller scored 122 runs in 1983.
League leaders
James Tibbs III led the PCL in walks (108), extra-base hits (65, tied with Rockies prospect Zac Veen), and total bases (278), and was second in home runs (30), RBI (107), and runs scored (109).
Ryan Fitzgerald led the PCL in hits (172), including one on Sunday, and doubles (35), and was third in RBI (102). Ehrhard (155) and Tibbs (150) were second and third in hits.
Cole Irvin, who pitched Saturday, led the PCL in ERA (3.33) and wins (12), and his 137 2/3 innings ranked second, two outs shy of the league leader.
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Keeping options open
Hyeseong Kim was hitless in four at-bats on Sunday, and finished his regular season hitting just .262/.330/.345 in Triple-A. That was good for only a 79 wRC+ before his 0-for-4 Sunday, after hitting just .259/.323/.328 with an 83 wRC+ in 43 games with the Dodgers this season.
Still, the Dodgers aren’t yet ruling out Kim as a potential speedster off the bench, with the ability to play both middle infield spots well in addition to time in center field and even at third base in Triple-A this season.
“My expectation is he will be here in the off week, and potentially be in the conversation for the postseason because he has the ability to run, play defense, and steal a base,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “I don’t think his offense has been consistent. For us, the at-bat quality that Alex Freeland has been giving us has been very good, he gets on base. For Hyeseong, just trying to find something consistent and to perform consistently. To be quite honest, he just hasn’t been as consistent as he can be, but if he can get more consistent with the bat, he can be a big piece.”
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Emmet Sheehan was called up to the Dodgers, as was reliever Kyle Hurt. Right-hander Seth Halvorsen was optioned to Oklahoma City.
Sunday score
Oklahoma City 2, El Paso 1
The week ahead
Pacific Coast League championship
Game 1, Tuesday: Oklahoma City at Las Vegas
Game 2, Wednesday: Oklahoma City at Las Vegas
Game 3*, Thursday: Oklahoma City at Las Vegas
*if necessary
If the Comets win the PCL title, they would advance to play in the Triple-A championship next Saturday, September 26 on MLB Network, playing the International League champion, a battle between Rochester and Memphis.
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