Drillers Fall to Heasley and Naturals
August 20, 2021 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Jeren Kendall celebrates with his the Tulsa Drillers after hitting a home run on his first at-bat back from the injured list
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
Tulsa - The Tulsa Drillers two-game winning streak came to an end Thursday night at the hands of a familiar face. Former Oklahoma State University pitcher Jon Heasley worked six strong innings, allowing just one run, to help Northwest Arkansas to a 4-1 win over the Drillers at ONEOK Field. The Drillers had won the first two games of the six-game series and the defeat was just their second in the past seven games.
Heasley's teammates staked him to a lead before he took the mound for the first time. Tulsa starting pitcher Gus Varland retired the game's first two batters before back-to-back doubles from Vinnie Pasquantino and Meibrys Viloria produced the game's first run for the Naturals.
Viloria, who has spent time in the majors with the Kansas City Royals in each of the last three straight seasons, doubled the Northwest Arkansas lead when he led off the fourth with a home run.
An unearned run later in the fourth made it 3-0.
Heasley's lead increased to four runs when Brewer Hicklen tripled and scored in the top of the sixth.
After five scoreless innings, the Drillers got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the sixth. One-out singles by Ryan Noda and Hunter Feduccia put runners at first and second. After a strikeout, Kody Hoese grounded a single up the middle to plate Noda.
It would be the only offensive production against Heasley and the Naturals' bullpen. The former OSU right-hander allowed the one run on five hits, pitching around four walks while striking out five in his six innings.
Relievers Daniel Tillo and Collin Snider combined to hold Tulsa without a hit over the final three frames.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
*Varland pitched to two batters in the fourth but officially worked 3.0 innings. He was charged with three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks.
*Hoese has now hit safely in all three games since returning from the Injured List on Tuesday.
*The game featured only 11 total hits, including five from the Drillers.
*Cameron Gibbens followed Varland to the mound and did not allow a hit or a run in two relief innings.
*Austin Drury worked the final three innings for Tulsa, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Northwest Arkansas at Tulsa on Friday, August 20 at 7:05 PM at ONEOK Field.
The Drillers will have right-hander Jose Martinez (0-1, 9.90 ERA) starting on the mound while the Naturals have yet to name a starter.
Images from this story
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