The Oklahoma City Comets broke out of a three-game funk Saturday night, beating the Sugar Land Space Cowboys 5-1 at Constellation Field behind a strong start from left-hander Jackson Ferris and another big game from James Tibbs III.

The win, detailed in the team's game recap, sets up a series-deciding finale Aug. 23,at 2:05 p.m. in Sugar Land. OKC trails the six-game set 3-2 and needs a win to earn a split.

Sugar Land struck first with a run in the opening frame, but Zach Ehrhard answered immediately with a run-scoring single in the first to level the score. The Comets grabbed the lead for good in the fifth when Tibbs III ripped an RBI double and Ryan Ward followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

Ferris worked around traffic all night. He allowed one run on six hits across 5.0 innings, walking two and striking out three. His biggest moment came in the fifth when he struck out two batters with the bases loaded to protect the two-run cushion. It was his second consecutive winning start; over his last two outings, Ferris has allowed just one run and 10 hits across 10.0 innings with 12 strikeouts.

Austin Gauthier and Ryan Fitzgerald each added sacrifice flies in the eighth to push the margin to 5-1, giving the bullpen breathing room it hardly needed.

Reliever Jerming Rosario extended his consecutive scoreless-appearance streak to 13 games, tossing 2.0 innings with one hit and one strikeout. Since July 7, Rosario has thrown 16.1 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts. The streak ties for the longest in the Pacific Coast League this season, matching Sugar Land's Miguel Ullola and Sacramento's Nick Zwack.

The defense backed the pitching staff all night. OKC turned four double plays, tying a season high set May 7 against Salt Lake. After allowing the first-inning run, the Comets held Sugar Land scoreless over the final eight frames.

Tibbs III's Constellation Field dominance

Tibbs III's RBI double Saturday gave him an 8-for-18 (.444) series with three home runs and five RBI across six games. His series included a 4-for-4, two-homer night in Tuesday's 6-3 series-opening win and a perfect 3-for-3 with a homer in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning loss.

For the season, Tibbs III is hitting .405 (17-for-42) with nine home runs and 21 RBI in 10 games at Constellation Field.

Streak snapped

The three losses that preceded Saturday's win were all decided by a single run: 2-1 on Wednesday, Aug. 19; 3-2 on Thursday, Aug. 20; and 4-3 in 10 innings on Friday, Aug. 21. OKC had gone 16-6 over its previous 22 games before the skid hit.

The Comets now stand at 69-54 overall and 28-21 in the second half. They have allowed four runs or fewer in each of their last 10 contests.

Up next

The series finale is Sunday, Aug. 23, at 2:05 p.m. at Constellation Field. Radio coverage begins at 1:50 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps.