TL Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Lose Six-Run Lead in Loss to Amarillo

July 2, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


AMARILLO, TX - A lead is never safe when playing at Amarillo's HODGETOWN. For the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday, they failed to hold a six-run lead as the Sod Poodles rallied to score ten straight runs and defeat Tulsa 12-10.

The game was the longest nine-inning game for the Drillers this season at 3 hours and 28 minutes, and the loss made Tulsa's record on the road 17-17.

Both teams sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning, but the Drillers came out with the advantage. Tulsa began with two runners reaching base on a single and a walk. A sacrifice fly, RBI single and a groundout scored three runs for the Drillers, but Amarillo promptly scored two of its own in the bottom half of the first. A walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch put runners at second and third. A passed ball scored the Sod Poodles' first runs, and an RBI single made the score 3-2.

The Drillers used an RBI single in the second inning to score their fourth run and continued to add to their lead.

After a walk and a single put two runners on base in the third inning, Austin Gauthier hit a three-run homer. Ismael Alcantra drove in the Drillers eighth run to give Tulsa its biggest lead of the night at 8-2.

After using eight pitchers the night before, the Drillers had to turn to the bullpen in the first inning as Tulsa starter Nick Nastrini could not make it out of the inning. Nastrini reached his pitch limit with two outs in the first.

Tulsa turned to Antonio Knowles, who worked a perfect inning and 1/3 with two strikeouts.

Making his debut with the Drillers on Saturday, Robbie Peto took the mound in the third inning and tossed two scoreless innings before Amarillo began its comeback.

In the fifth, Tim Tawa hit a solo home run to make the score 8-3.

In the sixth and seventh innings, four home runs and two mistakes from catcher Carson Taylor gave Amarillo a 10-8 lead.

With the Drillers bullpen being stretched, catcher Hamlet Marte entered the game to pitch in the eighth inning, and Amarillo scored two more runs to make the score 12-8.

Tulsa did score two more runs in the final inning as Jorbit Vivas singled to left field but was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double, ending the game.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*Gauthier earned two hits for the night and extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games.

*Tulsa used six pitchers on Saturday and 14 total over the past two games.

*The Drillers committed three errors, matching their season high.

*The Sod Poodles stole eight bases, setting a new season high for stolen bases allowed by the Drillers.

*The teams combined to issue 18 walks.

*On Saturday, the Drillers announced a series of roster moves before the game. Pitcher Kyle Hurt was placed on the Temporarily Inactive List, and pitcher Ricky Vanasco was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Catcher Hamlet Marte was activated from the Development List, and pitcher Peto was added from Great Lakes.

*Since the Drillers scored seven runs in the game, fans can purchase a large, one-topping pizza from Mazzio's on Sunday for just $7. The special offer is good throughout the day and is only available online at Mazzios.com and when you use the code DRILLERS at checkout.

UP NEXT:

The Drillers will continue their six-game series in Amarillo with game five on Sunday night at 7:05 p.m. at HODGETOWN. The starting pitchers have been announced as:

TUL - RHP Ben Casparius (0-2, 5.73 ERA)

AMA - RHP Deyni Olivero (4-5, 9.00 ERA)

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics



Texas League Stories from July 2, 2023


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