Raptors Lead Owlz 1-0 in Match-up of Dodgers vs. Angels Rookie League Teams & O’Koyea

While Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum were dueling in the City by the Bay, a 2-1 Dodger W  as Clayton Kershaw deservedly won his 18th game of the year, completely out pitching Tim Lincecum. Another San Francisco resident O’Koyea Dickson, a 12th round pick by the Dodgers out of Sonoma State University, was getting ready for his first playoff game as a professional.

In Orem Utah, famous for being near BYU, Brigham Young University, the Angels affiliate Owlz were hosting game 1 of the Pioneer League Southern Division Playoffs. The Owlz took the season series from the Raptors 7-to-9, with the Owlz winning 7 straight at one point.

But back to Dickson. He signed with the Dodgers on June 30th, but didn’t see his first game action until July 4. He had a hit, scored a run and knocked in another in his debut. He had 3 hits, 2 RBI and a run in his 2nd game, and 2 more hits w/double #2 and another run in his third. We get it he’s good, and at that point took over the first base job for the rest of the season.

He would go on to lead the team in HR with 13, despite not playing in the first 15 games of the season. He legged out a double in his first at-bat tonight but it was his Sac Fly, advancing runners from 1st and 2nd that set the table for Noel Cuevas.

Courtesy of Brandon Hart  of the Raptors Web Site:

"Cuevas delivered a bases-loaded, game-winning, two-run single to beat the Orem Owlz 3-2 in Game 1 of the Pioneer League Playoffs Friday at Brent Brown Ballpark.Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Justin Boudreaux singled to left and moved to second on a wild pitch to start the inning. Joc Pederson was then intentionally walked. O’Koyea Dickson then fouled out to the warning track in right, moving Pederson and Boudreaux to second and third. After Scott Schebler walked to load the bases…"

Cuevas battled back from being down 0-2 to do this:

The Raptors held on to the slim 3-2 margin getting a solid 5+ IP from starter Derek Cone, who only allowed 2 runs and struck out 5. He’s got really solid off-speed and breaking stuff, but struggled with fastball command all night. A shout out to him that he kept his team in the game despite not having his best stuff.

The bullpen then threw three-and-two-thirds scoreless innings beginning with Yimi Rodriguez. But it was Harvard Graduate and Orange County Native Eric Eadington, a free-agent lefty, who got 5 big outs in the 7th and 8th innings, & teamed with O’Koyea to get out of this bases-loaded jam.

Yimi #2 Garcia got the save. Barely, with a very exciting final out.

As for O’Koyea, who was intentionally walked twice after his double, he was kind enough to stop by Lasorda’s Lair for his post-game thoughts.

BTW O’Koyea is listed at 5-11 215. He’s easily 15 LBS more than 215, he’s thick, but he runs well, and looks like a solid defender. But what I like most about watching him is he really tends to make hard solid contact
(That’s what she said) even his outs are loud, which is a good trait.

All in all a great night in Orem and big win for the Raptors, and now 2 home games to take the series.