TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Clutch Relief Leads Drillers to First Win of 2016

Published on April 8, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Exactly six years to the day after the Corpus Christi Hooks beat the Tulsa Drillers in the inaugural game played at ONEOK Field back in 2010, the Drillers delivered some payback Friday night in Corpus Christi. Utilizing a strong bullpen performance, the Drillers got just enough offense as they picked up their first victory of 2016, defeating the Hooks 2-1 at Whataburger Field.

The Drillers scored their first run of the season in the second inning, taking advantage of heads up base running and sloppy play from the Hooks.

Tulsa right fielder Yadir Drake earned a one-out walk in the frame before advancing to second when Hooks center fielder Teoscar Hernandez dropped a routine fly ball off the bat of Erisbel Arruebarrena. Both Drake and Arruebarrena then moved up a base on a deep fly out to left field. The alert base running play allowed Drake to score when Corpus shortstop Alex Bregman could not cleanly field a Devan Ahart ground ball single in the hole, giving the Drillers a 1-0 lead.

But the Hooks came charging right back in the third inning as they took advantage of a couple of one-out walks from Tulsa starter Chris Anderson.

After issuing the free passes, Anderson retired Hernandez for the second out of the inning and looked to escape the inning unscathed. But Bregman, who was the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros, came through with an RBI single to knot the game up at 1-1. Despite walking the next batter to load the bases, Anderson was able to limit the damage as he got big-league veteran Evan Gattis to fly out to right to end the inning.

Corpus Christi kept the pressure on in the fourth inning, loading the bases on a walk, a hit and a fielding error by Arruebarrena. But Anderson again wiggled out of the jam without allowing the Hooks to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Hooks starter David Paulino kept the Drillers off balance to keep the game tied up.

Following an uneventful fifth inning, the game was then turned over to the respective bullpens.

Kyle Smith came in for Hooks starter David Paulino to begin the sixth and quickly set down the first two Drillers batters he faced. But Drillers cleanup hitter Jacob Scavuzzo kept the inning alive with a two-out base hit. After a throwing error extended the inning further, Drake made Corpus pay again as he delivered a clutch, RBI single to right to put Tulsa up 2-1.

Tulsa reliever Ralston Cash made a strong 2016 debut as he did his part to keep the Drillers lead intact. Coming in for Anderson, Cash fired two shutout innings as he struck out five of the six Corpus batters he faced.

Caleb Dirks followed Cash and had to weather a Hooks comeback attempt in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and a man on first, J.D. Davis lined a single into the gap in right-center field. Drake saved the game however, with a headlong dive to keep the lead runner from scoring. That play would prove pivotal as Dirks was able to strand the runners there and preserve the Drillers slim lead.

After a scoreless top of the ninth, newcomer Logan Bawcomb came on for Tulsa to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Bawcomb fell behind the first batter 3-0, but battled back to strike him out. That took the air out of the Hooks as the next two batters were quickly set down as the Drillers held on for their first win of the year.

Cash earned the victory with his two innings of scoreless relief, while Bawcomb earned his first save for Tulsa.

The triumph also served as the inaugural win for Tulsa's Ryan Garko in his first year as a professional manager.

The Drillers and Hooks will play the rubber game of their three-game series Saturday night. Right-hander Felipe Gonzalez will make his first start of the season for Tulsa and will be opposed by Francis Martes for Corpus. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.

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