Drillers Offense Explodes for 12 Runs in Win
July 21, 2018 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
After struggling to get the offense going last night, the Tulsa Drillers bounced back Saturday night against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals for a big 12-2 win at Arvest Ballpark. Tulsa starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin went six strong innings, only giving up two runs in the win.
Tulsa started its night in the top of the first with singles by Drew Jackson and Luke Raley. Will Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Drillers the early lead at 1-0.
The offense continued with D.J. Peters leading off the second inning with his team leading 20th home run of the season for a 2-0 lead.
After a 1-2-3 inning by Gonsolin, the Drillers continued to extend their lead by sending twelve batters to the plate in the third. A lead-off single by Raley was followed by Smith reaching on an error to put two on with no outs. A single by Jacob Scavuzzo and the second wild pitch of the inning put the Drillers up 4-0. The offense continued to produce as a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases.
Another error was followed by a Mike Ahmed double to make it 8-0. Reliever Yunior Marte would not be able to slow down the onslaught as Jackson was hit by a pitch and then scored on a home run by Raley to make it 11-0 Drillers.
The Drillers immediately plated another run in the top half of the fourth when a triple by Peters was followed by a Wes Darvill single to extend the lead to 12-0.
Northwest Arkansas answered back in the bottom of the half of the fourth with a lead off double byErick Mejia. He come around to score on a ground out from Samir Duenez to make it 12-1.
The Naturals attempted to rally in the fifth as a walk to Kort Peterson turned into a run as the next batter, Nick Heath, tripled to cut the lead to 12-2. Gonsolin would dial in to retire the next two hitters to end the threat.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*This was the third consecutive quality start by Tulsa pitchers.
*The home run by Peters tied him with former Driller Joey Curletta for the Texas League lead, passing another former Driller in Peter O'Brien for all of Double-A.
*Tulsa reliever Yadier Alvarez struck out the side in his one inning out of the bullpen, and Andrew Istler added two hitless and scoreless innings.
*The win put the Drillers record to 20-7 for the second half.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will take on the Naturals again on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Arvest Ballpark is scheduled for 2:05 PM, and the probable starting pitchers are:
TUL Mitchell White (2-4 5.67 ERA)
NWA Emilio Ogando (5-6, 6.69 ERA)
Texas League Stories from July 21, 2018
- 8th Inning Too Much for Missions - San Antonio Missions
- Cardona Homers Twice in Comeback Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Travs Offense Can't Keep Pace with Cards in 13-7 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Offense Explodes for 12 Runs in Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Northwest Arkansas Drilled by Tulsa, 12-2 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Take Rain-Shortened 5-3 Win on Friday - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs Down Cards in Rain-Shortened Game - Arkansas Travelers
- Record Crowd Treated to Extra-Inning Thriller - Frisco RoughRiders
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