Drillers Drop Final Game of Home Stand to RockHounds
Published on July 22, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Jared Walker recorded a hit in the Tulsa Drillers 7-3 loss to Midland on Monday night at ONEOK Field
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
TULSA - The Tulsa Drillers concluded a seven-game homestand Monday night with a second straight loss to Midland. The RockHounds generated all their offense in the first five innings to take a lead they would not relinquish in sending the Drillers to a 7-3 loss. The loss was a missed opportunity for Tulsa who could have moved into a first-place tie in the North Division standing of the Texas League with a win.
The two teams traded runs in the first three innings. The RockHounds opened the scoring in the top of the second when Edwin Diaz singled and scored on a two-out hit from Brallan Perez.
Carlos Rincon got the run back for the Drillers in the bottom of the third with his fifth Double-A homer of the season. The opposite-field, solo liner tied the score at 1-1.
Midland used a homer to go back in front in the fourth, as Diaz doubled in front of Nate Mondou's fourth long ball of the season that gave the Hounds a two-run lead. The inning continued with Perez singling, stealing second and scoring on a base hit by Chase Calabuig that made it 4-1.
The offense continued in the bottom half of the fourth as Cristian Santana doubled and scored on a base hit by Angelo Mora. The Drillers cut the Midland lead to 4-3 on the following pitch when Connor Wong lined a double to the right-center field wall that plated Mora.
Midland responded with a two-out rally in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Tulsa starting pitcher Justin De Fratus hit Dan Gamache with a pitch. It proved costly as Diaz followed with his third hit of the night to put runners at first and third. Mondou then reached safely when he beat out a soft chopper to the left of third base, as Gamache scored. The RockHounds lead swelled to 7-3 when former Oklahoma State University catcher Collin Theroux lined a double just inside the third base bag to score both Diaz and Mondou and cap their second consecutive three-run inning.
Midland used a group of five pitchers to cover the victory with no hurler working more than two innings.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*With the defeat, Tulsa finished with a losing record in its final homestand of July. The Drillers were 3-4 after splitting the four games with Midland and losing two of three games with Frisco.
*Monday's defeat leaves the Drillers one game behind Springfield and Arkansas who are tied atop the TL's North Division standings.
*Midland manager Scott Steinmann was ejected by home plate umpire Jose Matamoros in the bottom of the fourth inning for apparently disagreeing on balls and strikes calls.
*It was a tough night for De Fratus. The right-hander was charged with seven runs on ten hits in just five innings of work. The loss dropped his Drillers season record to 5-6.
*The home run by Rincon was his first since June 18, the opening game of the second half of the season.
*The Drillers will not be in action on Tuesday prior to opening an important seven-game road trip on Wednesday. The trip will begin with a three-game series in Frisco with the RoughRiders. That series will be followed by another four-game set with the RockHounds in Midland that will conclude the month of July.
UP NEXT: Tulsa at Frisco, Wednesday, July 24, 7:05 PM at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, TX. RHP Jo Jo Gray (0-1, 5.06 ERA) versus RHP Jason Bahr (0-2, 5.92 ERA).
Images from this story
 Jared Walker recorded a hit in the Tulsa Drillers 7-3 loss to Midland on Monday night at ONEOK Field (Rich Crimi) |
Texas League Stories from July 22, 2019
- Riders Complete Series Win with 5-3 Victory - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Drop Final Game of Home Stand to RockHounds - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Can't Muster Series Draw vs. Springfield - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Christmas in July & SpongeBob Highlight Seven-Game Stretch - Frisco RoughRiders
- Sod Poodles Bachar, Castillo Sweep Texas League Weekly Honors - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- RockHounds Blank Drillers - Midland RockHounds
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