TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Lose in Extra Innings in Olivera's Debut

Published on June 5, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The Tulsa Drillers struggles with the Midland RockHounds continued Thursday night at ONEOK Field. The Drillers failed to hold a three-run lead as the RockHounds rallied with a pair of seventh-inning home runs to send the game into extra innings. It took a while, but the Hounds eventually completed the rally with six runs in the 14th inning to post a 9-3 victory.

The result kept the Drillers winless against Midland this season, with the RockHounds winning all six meetings between the two teams. The two teams will not meet again until the second-half of the season.

Cuban star Hector Olivera takes a swing Thursday night at ONEOK Field. The game was his first professional game played in the U.S. (Rich Crimi)

The loss spoiled the professional debut of Hector Olivera. The former Cuban National, who was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in March, started at third base for the Drillers and reached base safely three times, going 1-4 with two walks. Olivera's one hit came on a third inning single.

In the early part of the game, it looked as if Tulsa would record its first victory against the RockHounds. The Drillers built a 3-0 lead with the first run coming in the second inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Peter Lavin dropped a double just inside the left field foul line. Ali Solis followed with a ground ball single into centerfield that brought Lavin home.

The Drillers doubled their lead in the next inning. Adam Law and Yadir Drake opened the third with consecutive singles. Law eventually scored on a double play grounder off the bat of Lars Anderson to put Tulsa in front 2-0.

Tulsa added a third run in the fifth. Luis Mateo led off with a base hit and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Drillers starting pitcher Mickey Storey cruised through the first six innings and appeared on his way to another easy inning in the seventh. He retired the first two batters before Chad Pinder bounced a grounder that caromed off Storey's shoe for an infield single. Renato Nunez followed with his second home run of the series to pull the RockHounds to within 3-2.

The next batter, Carson Blair, erased the lead with an opposite field drive that just cleared the right field fence for his third home run of the season.

For the next six innings, the bullpens dominated. For Tulsa, Mike Thomas, Jacob Rhame and Jorge De Leon each worked two scoreless innings.

The deadlock ended with a six-run outburst from Midland in the top of the 14th inning. Drillers' reliever Chris Reed walked the first two batters before a bunt single from Pinder and a run-scoring hit from Nunez put the RockHounds in front. A hit from Bruce Maxwell plated another run before Jaycob Brugman put an exclamation point on the rally. His grand slam homer gave the RockHounds a 9-3 lead.

Storey deserved a better fate than a no decision. Prior to the two-out uprising in the seventh, the former Houston Astros' right-hander had blanked the RockHounds on only three hits through 6.2 innings.

Offensively, Law enjoyed a big night for Tulsa, finishing with three hits.

Pinder led Midland with his second four-hit game of the season.

The Drillers will now open a three-game series with Frisco at 7:05PM Friday night at ONEOK Field. Jose De Leon (0-1, 2.7 ERA) will make his first start in Tulsa in the opener for the Drillers, while Andrew Faulkner (3-3, 5.17 ERA) will take the mound for the RoughRiders. The game will be the first of two straight that will feature a large post-game Fireworks display.

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Texas League Stories from June 5, 2015


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