Casey's Big Night Helps Drillers Split with Travelers
Published on July 2, 2021 under Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Tulsa, OK - A big night from outfielder Donovan Casey helped the Tulsa Drillers split a doubleheader with Arkansas Friday night at ONEOK Field. After the Drillers dropped the opener 3-1, Casey hit two home runs in the second game to lead the Drillers to an 8-4 win before a sellout crowd in downtown Tulsa.
Casey finished the night with a combined four hits and five RBI in the two games. His second game performance marked the third time this season that a Drillers player has hit two home runs in a game.
All of the offensive action in the first game took place in the final inning as both starting pitchers were excellent. Tulsa's Gerardo Carrillo allowed only two hits in four scoreless innings, while Jordan Williamson gave up two hits in five shutout frames.
Scoreless through six innings, the Travelers finally broke through against reliever Nick Robertson courtesy of Julio Rodriguez, ranked as the fifth-best prospect in Minor League Baseball. Connor Kopach worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a two-out hit by Bobby Honeyman. Rodriguez followed with his first Double-A home run, an opposite-field drive that easily cleared the right field fence. It was just Rodriguez's third game since his promotion from Class-A.
Trailing 3-0, the Drillers did not go quietly in their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Ryan Noda walked and Stevie Berman singled. After Jeren Kendall went down on strikes, Casey just missed a game-tying homer when his liner hit the base of the right field wall. He settled for a run-scoring double that put the potential tying runs at second and third bases. Michael Busch made a bid for another hit, but his soft liner was caught by centerfielder Connor Kopach for the game-ending out.
Unlike the opener, game two of the doubleheader featured early scoring with the two teams trading runs. Arkansas jumped in front in the top of the first inning when three singles off Tulsa starter Andre Jackson produced a run.
Casey accounted for Tulsa's run in the bottom of the first with his first homer, a solo shot that tied the score.
David Masters put the Travelers back in front when he homered on the first pitch of the second inning.
The Drillers responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead. Carlos Rincon led off with a single, and with one out, Kendall belted his eighth homer of the season. The drive landed on the right field concourse before bouncing on to Elgin Avenue.
A defensive error from the Drillers allowed the Travs to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Following a walk to Bobby Honeyman, Rodriguez lined a base hit into left field, and when the ball skipped past leftfielder Noda, Honeyman raced home to make it 3-3.
The Drillers broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth, and it was Casey who again came through. Kendall singled and Hunter Feduccia walked to set the stage for Casey. The Tulsa outfielder delivered his second homer of the game and his sixth of the season, putting Tulsa in front 6-3.
After the Travelers cut the lead to lead to two runs on a Connor Lien homer in the sixth, Tulsa put the nightcap out of reach with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Busch singled home the first run, and Noda brought home the second with a sacrifice fly.
Mark Washington recorded the final five outs of the game to pick up his second save of the year.
Tulsa and Arkansas have now played 16 times this season with each team winning 8 games.
HIGHLIGHTS
*In game one, Carrillo walked four batters and struck out five
in his four innings of work.
*Robertson suffered his second loss of the season in the opener. The three runs he allowed were the most he had given up in game in his professional career.
*The Drillers win in the second game came against Travs starting pitcher Penn Murfee who had gone a perfect 3-0 in the month of June with a 1.38 ERA.
*Tulsa reliever Zach Willeman picked up his first win of the season in game two. Willeman allowed one run in 2.1 innings in relief of starter Andre Jackson.
*Kendall, who did not start the opener, was 2-3 in the nightcap with 2 runs batted in and his team-leading 15th stolen base.
*Like Casey, the Travs Rodriguez enjoyed a big offensive night, finishing 4-5 with the homer and 3 runs batted in.
*Paid attendance for the doubleheader was 7,936.
UP NEXT
Arkansas at Tulsa on Saturday, July 3 at 7:05 PM at ONEOK Field. The pitching matchup will be Arkansas RHP Devin Sweet (1-4, 6.31 ERA) vs. Tulsa RHP Michael Grove (0-2, 8.38 ERA).
Texas League Stories from July 2, 2021
- Soddies Slam Their Way to Game 4 Win - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Catcher Is the Winning Pitcher; Frisco Wins in 11 - Midland RockHounds
- Surge Fall in Game Four in Amarillo - Wichita Wind Surge
- Adrian Martinez's Dominant Start Leads Missions to Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Gonzalez Spoils No-Hit Bid in Hooks Loss - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Casey's Big Night Helps Drillers Split with Travelers - Tulsa Drillers
- Penn Murfee Takes Home June League Pitcher of the Month - Arkansas Travelers
- Norel González Named Double-A Central Player of the Month - Corpus Christi Hooks
- DSP Open for 4th of July Fireworks - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Rally for Eight Runs Late in Fourth Straight Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks, Missions Split Doubleheader Thursday - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Flying Chanclas Split Thursday Night Doubleheader - San Antonio Missions
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