TL Tulsa Drillers

8-Run Third Inning Helps Drillers Win Fifth Straight

May 19, 2021 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Tulsa, OK- The Tulsa Drillers used their biggest offensive inning of the season Tuesday night to run their winning streak to five straight games. The Drillers scored eight times in the third inning and defeated the Wichita Wind Surge 12-3 at ONEOK Field. The Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, entered the game with the best record in MiLB's Double-A Central.

The Wind Surge took an early lead in the game, scoring two runs after two outs in the top of the first inning.

The Drillers used their big third inning to overtake the Surge, with all eight of their runs also scoring after there were two outs. Michael Busch plated the first run with a double that landed at the base of the wall in centerfield. Donovan Casey followed with a base hit that scored Busch to tie the game at 2-2.

A walk to Ryan Noda and a base hit by Kody Hoese loaded the bases for Jeren Kendall. The Drillers centerfielder put Tulsa in front with a two-run base hit. After a hit batter, Carlos Rincon brought two more runs home with a base hit. Catcher Hunter Feduccia capped the eight-run inning with another two-run single.

Noda accounted for the rest of Tulsa's offense with a pair of two-run homers. The first came in the fourth inning and the second came in the sixth, making Noda the first Drillers player with a multi-homer game this season.

Tulsa starting pitcher Michael Grove recovered from the tough first inning to deliver his best outing of the season. The right-hander retired the final ten batters he faced before departing with two outs in the fourth.

Grove, ranked the #22 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, surrendered the two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three.

Relievers Bryan Warzek and Justin Hagenman followed Grove to the mound. Warzek allowed one run in 1.2 innings while Hagenman allowed just one hit in 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out three. Hagenman was given the win by the official scorer, upping his record to 2-1.

Hunter Speer completed the victory with a scoreless ninth inning.

The loss knocked Wichita out of first place in the North Division standings of the Double-A Central with Arkansas taking over the top spot, 1 Â1/2 games in front of the Drillers.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

*The game marked the first meeting between Minor League Baseball teams from Tulsa and Wichita since the 2006 season.

*Rincon and Casey extended their hitting streaks to 11 straight games. Rincon is hitting .395 in his streak, while Casey is hitting .319 in his. It is the second double-digit hitting streak for Rincon since he has been with the Drillers, as he hit in 13 straight games during the 2019 season.

*The 12 runs for Tulsa were a season high.

*Drillers first base coach Chris Gutierrez was ejected at the end of the second inning by home plate umpire Darius Ghani for arguing balls and strikes.

*Noda finished the game 2-4 with three runs scored and four RBI.

BOXSCORE

UP NEXT

Wichita at Tulsa, Wednesday, May 19, 12:05 PM at ONEOK Field. Wichita RHP Josh Winder (1-0, 1.17 ERA) versus Tulsa RHP Gus Varland (0-0, 2.45 ERA).

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics



Texas League Stories from May 19, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central