Drillers Earn First Victory of 2017
April 9, 2017 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
After struggling through the first two games in Midland both at the plate and on the mound, the Tulsa Drillers were looking for something to change Saturday night in the series finale. And the Drillers offense answered the call as they scored seven runs on eleven hits before the bullpen hung on late to earn the club's first win of the season with a 7-6 victory.
Tulsa's offense jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning. Mike Ahmed got things started with a one-out single to left, moved to second on a walk to Edwin Rios, and then scampered home when the RockHounds Melvin Mercedes missed a ground ball at third off the bat of Kyle Farmer to put Tulsa in front 1-0. That error led to another unearned run as Paul Hoenecke lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Rios and give the Drillers a 2-0 advantage.
But the lead would be short-lived as the RockHounds immediately bounced back in front with three runs in the home half of the frame. Capitalizing on two walks and three singles, Midland set the tone for what would be a back-and-forth affair.
The Drillers put up a three-spot of their own in the second inning as they took advantage of a throwing error by Mercedes and run-scoring hits from Ahmed and Rios to pull back ahead 5-3.
The scoring would then slow down a bit over the next few innings as both teams were kept in check until the fifth.
Facing Tulsa reliever Michael Johnson who came on in relief of starter Tim Shibuya, Midland knotted things up at 5-5 thanks to a walk of Max Schrock and a two-run homer by Tyler Marincov.
The RockHounds threatened to pull ahead in the sixth as they put runners on first and second with one out before Yaisel Sierra was brought into the game in relief of Johnson. And Sierra was able to get out of the inning by retiring the next two Midland batters to keep the game tied.
That proved pivotal as Jacob Scavuzzo led off the seventh with a screaming, line-drive homer that just stayed inside the left field foul pole to put Tulsa back up 6-5. The home run was both Scavuzzo and Tulsa's first of the season.
After Scavuzzo's blast, the Drillers looked to pad their advantage as they loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks. But Joel Seddon was able to escape the jam without further damage as he struck out Hoenecke and got Johan Mieses to fly out to left following a 10-pitch at-bat.
The RockHounds answered quickly in their half of the seventh as Marincov doubled to center to start the frame before coming around to score on a two-out, ground-rule double by Argenis Raga to knot the game up yet again.
But the Drillers immediately answered in the eighth as Wynston Sawyer led off with a double before giving way to pinch-runner Tim Locastro. Following a groundout from Stetson Allie and a strikeout by Scavuzzo, Jose Miguel Fernandez kept the inning going with a sharp single off the glove of the Midland third baseman. Ahmed then delivered his third hit of the night with a run-scoring single into left field to put the Drillers back on top 7-6.
Midland threatened to tie it up again in the bottom half of the inning as the RockHounds put runners on first and third with two outs, prompting Tulsa manager Ryan Garko to call Joe Broussard in from the bullpen. Broussard did exactly what he was called on to do as the Louisiana native struck out Marincov swinging to extinguish the threat.
Broussard did more of the same in the bottom of the ninth as he struck out Viosergy Rosa to start before Hoenecke recorded the second out with an incredible defensive play. On a foul pop fly, Hoenecke ranged over from his position at first base to snare the fly ball, tumbling into the Midland dugout but hanging on to the ball. Broussard then got Ragas to ground out to short to secure the Drillers first victory of the season.
Sierra got the win for Tulsa with his two innings of relief work while Seddon took the loss for Midland. Broussard earned his first save of the season. The Drillers will now travel to Frisco, Texas to take on the RoughRiders for a three-game series. Getting the start in the series-opener for Tulsa will be LHP Colt Hynes. Frisco will counter with RHP Reed Garrett with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 PM.
Texas League Stories from April 9, 2017
- Riders Game Notes: April 9 vs. Tulsa - Frisco RoughRiders
- RoughRiders Offer Phil Simms Lead Analyst Job - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Take Series from Nats with 5-3 Win - San Antonio Missions
- 'Hounds Unable to Complete Sweep, Fall 7-6 to Tulsa - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Earn First Victory of 2017 - Tulsa Drillers
- Deetz Dazzles for Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Offensive Outburst Carries Riders to First Win of the Season - Frisco RoughRiders
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