Drillers Beat Travs for 3rd Straight Win
May 13, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers came into Friday night's game looking to secure a series victory after winning the first two games of their four-game set against the Arkansas Travelers. And win they did thanks to four home runs from their offense to go with four innings of shutdown relief from the bullpen as the Drillers dropped the Travs 8-6 at ONEOK Field. The win also marked the first three-game winning streak for the Drillers this season.
The power display was the third time this year the Drillers have hit four home runs in a game. In addition, it was also the second time this homestand that the club has accomplished the feat as the Tulsa lineup launched four homers in a win against the Springfield Cardinals on Monday.
The Travs actually began the scoring Friday as Tulsa starter Trevor Oaks shot himself in the foot by hitting the first two Arkansas batters he faced in the second inning. After a single by Cal Towey loaded the bases, the first run of the game scored on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Wade Wass. Moments later, Jabari Henry scampered home on a groundout from Stephen McGee, putting the Travs up 2-0.
Andrew Toles cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third inning with the first home run of the game, this one a solo shot onto the right field berm off Arkansas starter Blayne Weller. The blast was his third in just his eighth game with Tulsa since being called up from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
The floodgates opened the very next inning as the Drillers put runners on the corners with no outs following a leadoff double from Alex Verdugo and a single from Jacob Scavuzzo. Cody Bellinger tied things up with an RBI groundout to plate Verdugo before Willie Calhoun stepped up to the plate with a man on second and one out.
Three pitches later, the game was no longer tied as Calhoun launched a screaming line drive just inside the right field foul pole to put the Drillers in front 4-2.
Arkansas responded immediately however, scoring two runs on RBI singles from Chad Hinshaw and Henry. That brought up Towey who followed his teammates lead by cracking a 2-RBI double to plate Hinshaw and Henry, putting Arkansas on top 6-4.
The Drillers would continue to flex their muscles in the home half of the frame to reclaim the lead.
Toles led off the inning with a walk before Brandon Trinkwon got in the action with a two-run homer to draw Tulsa even. Weller looked as if he would escape the inning, getting Kyle Farmer to ground out and then striking out Verdugo. But Scavuzzo had other ideas as he crushed the final homer of the night with his fourth home run of the season to put the Drillers on top 7-6.
Reliever Tim Shibuya came on for Oaks to start the sixth inning and completely shut down the Travs offense, hurling three innings of shutout ball while allowing just a single hit.
Meanwhile, the Drillers added an insurance run in the eighth courtesy of an RBI base knock from Calhoun to bring the game to its final tally of 8-6.
Grant Dayton came on to pitch the ninth and slammed the door shut by striking out the side to secure the win.
With the win, the Drillers have now won seven of their last nine games.
Texas League Stories from May 13, 2016
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- Nielsen Goes the Distance as Cards Top Naturals, 6-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Unlucky on Friday the 13th in 6-1 Defeat at Springfield - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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