Late Homer Sends Drillers to 5th Straight Loss
August 11, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
One night after being limited to one run on five hits, the story would be the same for the Tulsa Drillers Thursday evening. Despite receiving a quality start from Scott Barlow, the Drillers would be unable to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Midland RockHounds as they fell 2-1 at ONEOK Field.
The loss was the fifth straight for the Drillers as they matched their season-long losing streak thanks to a late homer from the RockHounds. Offensively, Tulsa was held to just five hits for the second straight night while scoring just the lone run.
After accounting for all of Midland's runs Wednesday night with his two home runs, Hounds third baseman Matt Chapman helped get the scoring started for the visitors again Thursday.
Chapman led off the top of the second with his 25th double of the year before moving to third on a one-out groundout from Andy Paz. He then came home to score the first run of the game when Joe Bennie brought him in with a base hit into left field.
The score would hold there over the next several innings as both Barlow and Heath Fillmyer for Midland turned in quality performances for their respective clubs.
Barlow was particularly impressive as the right-hander had his best outing for the Drillers since mid-June, limiting the Hounds to just the one run over his six innings of work. He finished with a flourish by striking out the side in the top of the sixth to wrap up his night with seven strikeouts.
But Fillmyer was also on top of his game for Midland as the Oakland A's number nineteen overall prospect held the Drillers to just a lone base hit through the first four innings.
Kyle Garlick broke through for the Drillers in the home half of the fifth inning as he struck an opposite-field solo shot into the right field bullpen. Garlick's seventh home run of the season with Tulsa knotted the game at 1-1.
But Garlick's homer would be all the offense Tulsa could muster as Midland used a long ball of its own to retake the lead in the seventh.
The Drillers entered the night having allowed the fewest home runs in the Texas League as a staff this season, after giving up 83 round-trippers over 115 games. But Wade Kirkland missed the memo as the Hounds shortstop hit his second homer of the year off Tulsa reliever Daniel Corcino with two outs in the top of the seventh. The opposite-field homer gave Midland a 2-1 advantage that Tulsa would not be able to overcome.
The Hounds turned to a trio of relievers after Fillmyer exited following the fifth, and they combined to keep the Drillers off the scoreboard over the next four frames. Jake Sanchez tossed the final inning and was able to secure the sweep for Midland as he collected his 7th save of the season.
Kris Hall earned his first victory of the year with a scoreless sixth inning of relief for the Hounds while Corcino was saddled with his first loss of the year after allowing Kirkland's homer in the seventh.
The Drillers will look to end their losing streak Friday night as they begin a three-game series with the Frisco RoughRiders. Toeing the rubber for Tulsa will be RHP Chase De Jong (11-4, 2.83 ERA) while Frisco will send out RHP Ariel Jurado (1-1, 1.59 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. BOXSCORE vKRIX8Kr3fg==] ~~~~~
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Texas League Stories from August 11, 2016
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