Drillers Drop Doubleheader in Amarillo
July 3, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
AMARILLO, TX - Amarillo, TX - A tough road trip to Amarillo to open the second half of the season got even tougher for the Tulsa Drillers on Monday. Tulsa hitters combined to hit seven home runs in a doubleheader, but it was bested by the eight homers from Amarillo. The home runs led to 25 combined runs in the two games for the Sod Poodles, and they swept the doubleheader from the Drillers by scores of 15-7 and 10-9.
The first-game combination of a late-afternoon start in 90-degree temperatures at hitter-friendly Hodgetown created an especially bad scenario for pitchers, especially Tulsa hurlers.
The two teams combined for 22 runs and 25 hits, including 7 home runs, in the seven-inning contest. Three of the homers came off the bat of Amarillo's A.J. Vukovich. All three came in the game's first four innings and accounted for seven runs.
Tulsa had two home runs and both came in the top of the third inning. Imanol Vargas hit the first, and it was a solo blast that carried completely out of the stadium. One out later, Diego Cartaya cleared the left field fence to temporarily tie the game at 6-6.
The Sod Poodles continued the offensive onslaught with six runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the fourth to total their 15 runs in just four at-bats.
Kody Hoese enjoyed a big game for the Drillers, going a perfect 3-3 with two runs driven in. Tulsa had four other batters finish with two hits each.
The Drillers were hurt by poor base running in the opener, losing two runners on the base paths. They scored four times in the bottom of the second, but it could have been bigger. The inning ended when Eddys Leonard was thrown out at home on Hoese's hit after electing not to slide.
With two outs in the sixth, Austin Gauthier appeared to plate Hoese with a base hit, but Ismael Alcantara was thrown out trying to go from first to third just before Hoese crossed the plate, negating the run and ending the inning.
Hodgetown continued to play to form with more offensive fireworks in the second game as the Drillers took an initial lead after just two batters in the top of the first inning. Gauthier led off the game with a double, and Jorbit Vivas followed with his ninth home run of the year.
Tim Tawa got one of the runs back with his fourth home run of the series in the bottom of the first, but Carson Taylor answered for Tulsa in the top of the second with his sixth homer of the year.
The runs kept coming with two more from the Sod Poodles in their half of the second to tie the game at 3-3.
Vivas' second homer of the game and tenth of the season put the Drillers back in front in the third, but a passed ball in the bottom of the third gave Amarillo its fourth run to again tie it.
Hoese circled the bases on an inside-the-park homer leading off the fourth to give the Drillers a 5-4 cushion.
Amarillo erased the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tulsa reliever Ryan Sublette was able to retire just one of the six batters he faced as two walks, a wild pitch, a hit batter, a grand slam homer and a solo homer produced six runs to give the Sod Poodles a 10-5 lead.
Taylor's second home run of the game gave Tulsa it sixth run in the sixth.
The Drillers made things interesting in the seventh and final inning. The first three batters reached safely on a pair of walks and a base hit. A wild pitch brought in one run, and an RBI single from Yusniel Diaz brought in a second. With runners at the corners, Hoese cut Amarillo's lead to 10-9 with a sacrifice fly.
After Taylor reached on what was ruled an error, Gauthier hit a sharp grounder to second that turned into a game and series ending double play.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*Gauthier had hits in both games and has now reached base safely in 21 straight games. Since joining the Drillers on May 30, he has hit safely in 22 of the 28 games he has played.
*The Sod Poodles won five of the six games in the series while posting some eye-opening offensive numbers. They totaled 18 home runs and 61 runs scored in the six games.
*Amarillo dominated the base paths in the series, stealing 25 bases in 27 attempts. In comparison, the Drillers had just one stolen base in two attempts.
*The two teams combined for 105 total runs and 31 homers in the series.
*Amarillo's Caleb Roberts had 5 homers and 10 RBI in the six games, while Tawa had 4 home runs with 9 driven in. Right behind that duo was Vukovich who had 3 homers, all in Monday's first game, and 9 runs batted in.
*Hoese was Tulsa's offensive leader, hitting .474 with 2 homers and 7 runs batted in during the series. Taylor hit 3 home runs, while four other Drillers joined Hoese with 2 homers.
*The Tulsa pitching staff compiled a 10.47 ERA over the six games.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers will now make a quick return to Tulsa to open a six-game series with Wichita on Tuesday night at ONEOK Field. Tuesday's opener will feature a large, Fourth of July Fireworks Show and a special starting time of 6:35 p.m.
The starting pitchers are scheduled to be:
Wichita - RHP David Festa (2-2, 5.24 ERA)
Tulsa - RHP River Ryan (1-3, 2.62 ERA)
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