Drillers Rally in Extras to Earn Series Split
May 6, 2017 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Playing in the final game of a four-game set against the Arkansas Travelers Friday night, the Tulsa Drillers looked as if they would coast to a 4-1 victory as they led by that score going into the ninth inning. But a late comeback from the Travs sent the game into extras before the Drillers scratched across a run in the eleventh inning to earn a 5-4 win over the Travs at Dickey-Stephens Park.
With the victory, the Drillers secured a series split with the Travs after dropping the opening two games.
The game began as a pitcher's duel as both Josh Sborz for the Drillers and Max Povse for the Travs were on top of their games on the mound.
Sborz gave up a one-out single in the second inning and then proceeded to not allow another base hit over his next three innings of work.
It was the second straight strong showing for Sborz after the right-hander tossed 5.1 shutout innings his last time out.
Povse was perhaps even more dominant for Arkansas however, as he struck out eight Drillers over his five innings on the mound. But the Drillers were able to scratch across a run to take the lead in the fifth.
Johan Mieses worked a one-out walk off Povse before Wynston Sawyer hit a ground-rule double down the right field line to put runners on second and third. Mieses then came home to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Michael Ahmed to put Tulsa in front 1-0.
The Drillers took a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning after Arkansas went to its bullpen to begin the inning. Kyle Farmer worked a walk off reliever Brett Ash and quickly came home to score on an opposite field, RBI double by Edwin Rios to put Tulsa up 2-0. One batter later, that advantage was doubled when Kyle Garlick blasted his team-leading sixth home run of the year over the right-center field fence to give the Drillers a firm 4-0 lead.
But the Travs began to fight back as they scored a run in the bottom of the sixth on a passed ball charged to Farmer with a man on third to draw to within 4-1.
That score held until the bottom of the ninth when Arkansas looked as though it would roar back from behind to claim the series.
Facing Corey Copping who entered the night with a 1.35 ERA, the Travs scored a run on a walk and back-to-back singles before another walk loaded the bases with no outs. Former Driller Joey Wong then knotted the game up at 4-4 with a 2-RBI base hit into centerfield to put runners at the corners with no one out.
With the potential winning run standing just 90 feet away, Copping was able to recover to get Jay Baum to softly line out for the first out of the inning before handing the ball off to southpaw Michael Johnson. The lefty reliever was able to switch momentum back to the Drillers as he struck out pinch-hitter Brock Hebert before retiring Ian Miller on a pop out to short to preserve the game for Tulsa.
Following a scoreless tenth inning, the Drillers took the lead for good in the eleventh.
A Garlick single, a walk to Jose Fernandez and a Jacob Scavuzzo hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Tulsa before Sawyer delivered another key swing with a sacrifice fly to right. The flyout scored pinch-runner Tim Locastro, giving the Drillers a 5-4 lead.
Ralston Cash came on in the bottom of the eleventh and was able to work around a leadoff error to secure his first save to the season.
Johnson improved his season record to 2-0 for Tulsa after his clutch relief work while Zac Curtis took the loss for Arkansas.
The Drillers will now return to Tulsa for a 4-game series against the Springfield Cardinals. It will be the first time the two clubs have faced each other this season. Saturday's series opener will feature RHP Scott Barlow (0-2, 3.57 ERA) toeing the rubber for Tulsa while RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-1, 5.60 ERA) will get the start for Springfield. First pitch from ONEOK Field is set for 7:05 PM.
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Texas League Stories from May 6, 2017
- Naturals Blank Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- 'Hounds Complete Sweep of Hooks with 10-4 Win - Midland RockHounds
- Hounds Rally to Complete Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Rally in Extras to Earn Series Split - Tulsa Drillers
- Drillers Rally in Extras to Earn Series Split - Tulsa Drillers
- Rally Forces Extras But Travs Fall in 11 - Arkansas Travelers
- Missions Take Series with 5-4 Win over Riders - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Rally in 9th and Win It in 11 - San Antonio Missions
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