Drillers Defeated in Series Finale
Published on May 13, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals bats were blazing hot right out of the gate on Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Tulsa Drillers. The Naturals scored in each of the first five innings as they defeated the Drillers 11-8.
Things did not go well for Drillers starter Devin Smeltzer. The righty lasted only 3.1 innings and the Naturals tagged him for 12 hits, including three homers. Smeltzer allowed ten earned runs, and it was easily his roughest outing of the season.
The Drillers rallied for their first run in the top of the fourth. Connor Joe singled, Drew Jackson drew a walk and Zach Reks singled to load the bases. Angleo Mora then stepped in and lined an RBI single to get Tulsa on the board.
An inning later, D.J. Peters led the inning off with a double and Jackson drew another walk. Reks then singled for the second time in as many innings to plate another Drillers run. Peter O'Brien then stepped in and brought everyone home with a mammoth home run that traveled at least 460 feet to cut the deficit to 10-5.
The Naturals added another run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Drillers got it right back in the top of the sixth. Hamlet Marte singled to start the inning and was advanced to second on a groundout. Yusniel Diaz notched an RBI single to keep the Drillers deficit at five.
The Drillers pulled within four runs in the top of the eighth when Mora led the inning off with a blast to center, his second of the season. An inning later, Reks kept his good day going with a double to left. Mora singled him home for his third RBI of the afternoon, but this would be the closest the Drillers would come as they took the 11-8 loss by the Naturals.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Reks has seven hits in his first three games since being called up to Tulsa from Rancho Cucamonga. So far this season between the two clubs, he is hitting a whopping .419 in 12 games.
*Jackson showed a lot of patience at the plate on Sunday as he drew three walks.
*Chad Girodo had a good Drillers debut as he had two scoreless innings of relief out of the pen. The lefty was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on May 7.
*In a roster move before the game, the Dodgers sent Miguel Vargas to extended spring training, while Girodo made his way to Tulsa.
UP NEXT
The Drillers return home to ONEOK Field on Monday night to host the Springfield Cardinals. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM in game one of the four-game set, with the probable starters being:
SPR Connor Jones (2-0 4.97 ERA)
TUL Dennis Santana (0-2, 2.12 ERA)
Texas League Stories from May 13, 2018
- Martin, Jones Lead Charge to Secure Series Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Bannister Throws Complete Game Shutout in 1-0 Win over Cards - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Earn First Home Series Win of Season - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Bannister Goes the Distance, Travs Top Cards 1-0 - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Defeated in Series Finale - Tulsa Drillers
- San Antonio's Win Streak Comes to An End as Frisco Avoids Sweep - San Antonio Missions
- Bats Buts out in 10-3 Win over Missions - Frisco RoughRiders
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