Hector Olivera And Double-A Tulsa To Be Broadcast Nationally

While the Los Angeles Dodgers get the opportunity to enjoy their first off day since May 28 and lone day without baseball in the month of June, their Minor League affiliates are not afforded the same luxury on Thursday.

Double-A Tulsa games have garnered more attention over the last week with the arrival of Hector Olivera, and their spotlight figures to grow as Thursday’s game will be broadcast nationally. The 5:05 p.m. PT start can be viewed on CBS Sports Network, which is channel 221 on DirecTV, channel 315 on Time Warner Cable and 158 on Dish Network. As always, the game can also be watched on MiLB.TV for those with subscriptions.

While Thursday’s game is the start of a three-game series per se, it’s an extension of the three-game set the Drillers and Naturals wrapped up at Arvest Ballpark on Wednesday. After sweeping Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Drillers came up short in an 11-10 shootout that was largely unexpected in a matchup that featured hard-throwers Christian Binford and Jose De Leon.

Olivera has appeared in five games with the Drillers this season and is batting .278/.381/.444 (5-for-18) with one home run, five RBIs, three walks and five strikeouts heading into Thursday. His lone home run is a grand slam hit in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader.

Olivera made his professional debut at third base and has also played second, though it was far from a smooth experience. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday he wasn’t certain when the 30-year-old infielder would make his MLB debut, while adding he believed Olivera will first be sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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