Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect Jose De Leon had 13 strikeouts Sunday night and Triple-A Oklahoma City defeated Colorado Springs, 6-1, to clinch a second consecutive Pacific Coast League American Northern Division title.
Austin Barnes broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the seventh inning. He added an RBI single in a five-run eighth inning. De Leon’s 13 strikeouts were the second-most by an Oklahoma City pitcher in a single game since the club joined the PCL in 1998.
It also fell one shy of matching his career high, set in August 2014 with Low-A Great Lakes. With 7.2 shutout innings on Sunday, De Leon extended his scoreless streak to 17.2 innings.
He’s now recorded three straight double-digit strikeout games, and is the first Oklahoma City pitcher in PCL era to record five double-digit strikeout games in a season.
De Leon’s turn in the rotation comes up one more time prior to the regular season concluding. He can make that start, then take the mound in the opener against Nashville Sounds (Oakland Athletics affiliate) on Sept. 7.
Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five series will be played in Oklahoma City before shifting to Nashville for Game 3, and if necessary Games 4 and 5.
Playoff tickets went on sale beginning at 10 a.m. CT Monday morning. They can be purchased through the box office on S. Mickey Mantle Drive, by calling (405) 218-1000, or by ordering through okcdodgers.com.
Despite posting the best record in the PCL last season, OKC was swept out of the first round by Round Rock (Texas Rangers).
Overall, Oklahoma City has won nine division titles since joining the PCL. They’ve claimed two American Northern championships in as many years since becoming the Dodgers’ top Minor League affiliate.
The Dodgers announced earlier this month their affiliation agreement with Oklahoma City was extended through 2018. It was set to expire after the 2016 season.
