‘Cakes claim second straight from Dodgers

METAIRIE – Cristhian Adames hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and the New Orleans Baby Cakes held on to defeat the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 3-2 on Monday afternoon.

The ‘Cakes took both games of the abbreviated two-game series against the team that owned the Pacific Coast League’s best record at 12-2 entering the weekend.

With the score knotted 1-1 in the sixth, Magneuris Sierra greeted reliever CC Lee with a sharp single to right before Adames slugged his first home run of the season over the right field wall to give New Orleans its first lead. It was the Baby Cakes’ first home run in four games.

Jacob Turner and Colton Murray each pitched hitless frames of relief, but the Dodgers rallied in the ninth against Jumbo Diaz, who allowed back-to-back singles opening the inning and a two-out walk to load the bases. Diaz ended a long standoff with Henry Ramos by issuing a walk to force in a run, but retired Rob Segedin on a fly out to right to end the game. Diaz has recorded three saves in as many attempts.

With scheduled starter Walker Buehler promoted to Los Angeles, the Dodgers received four no-hit innings from his replacement, Manny Banuelos. Each of the left-hander’s first eight outs came via strikeout, and he finished with nine on the afternoon.

Alex Verdugo gave Oklahoma City the lead with a home run leading off the fourth inning, his fourth of the year and third against New Orleans.

The ‘Cakes finally got to the Dodgers in the fifth when Johnny Giavotella worked a walk against reliever Joe Broussard, who was then forced to make nine pitches to Sandy Alcantara before the Baby Cakes’ starting pitcher ripped a double to the right field wall to break up the Oklahoma City no-hit and shutout bids.

For the second time in his four starts, Alcantara fell one out shy of being in line for a victory. The right-hander made a season-high 89 pitches and scattered one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and two walks.

Severino Gonzalez (1-0) notched the final out of the sixth inning and was rewarded with the win, while Lee (2-1) took the loss.

Following a day off on Tuesday, the Baby Cakes travel to Nashville to begin a five-game set against the Sounds on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.