With the Los Angeles Dodgers using Monday as a travel day ahead of beginning their road trip, the organization’s Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate more than made up for the void with Tony Gonsolin, Austin Barnes, Jedd Gyorko and Gavin Lux each contributing in a 12-2 win.
While the night ended in a rout, Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) starter Joel Payamps had a no-hitter through four innings but only managed to record one out in what wound up being a nine-run fifth for Oklahoma City.
Jon Kremmer led the inning off with a single and promptly scored on Zach McKinstry’s double. Shane Peter followed with an RBI single, Jake Peter drove in a run with a triple, and Gonsolin helped his cause by driving an RBI double over the center fielder’s head.
After managing to retire Lux, Payamps gave up an RBI double to Barnes, who was his final batter faced. Gyroko later hit a two-run home run, and McKinstry added a solo homer in his second at-bat of the inning before the Aces could get off the field.
Lux made up for not being part of the barrage by pulling a line-drive home run well beyond the fence in right field the following inning. Though he was stranded, Barnes hit his second double of the night.
For Lux, he added to what’s been a remarkable showing since earning a promotion to Triple-A. He now has 11 home runs with Oklahoma City and has reached base safely in each of his first 35 games with the affiliate.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the young shortstop is on the organization’s radar and will likely join the Major League club prior to the regular season concluding. However, Roberts did not specify if that will be by way of joining the active roster or simply being exposed to the clubhouse in an apprenticeship of sorts.
That’s the route the Dodgers took with Will Smith last September, and it seemingly made his transition to being part of the team this year all the easier.
Gyorko’s rehab assignment and time with Oklahoma City also figures to be coming to an end in the near future as he’s expected to join the Dodgers within a week’s time.
Gonsolin, who went five scoreless innings in his first start since being optioned, should rejoin the Dodgers in the near future as well. He’s among the options the club is considering for a potential role out of the bullpen come the postseason.
