Drillers Open Home Stand with a Victory
July 25, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Tulsa Drillers' Jorbit Vivas at bat
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
TULSA, OK- After winning just twice in nine games on an extended road trip, the Tulsa Drillers opened a six-game home stand Tuesday night with a much-needed victory. In their first game at ONEOK Field in over two weeks, the Drillers took an early lead with a pair of first-inning runs and never trailed in posting a 5-3 win over Springfield.
After starting pitcher Ben Casparius set the Cardinals down in order in the top of the first, Tulsa leadoff batter Austin Gauthier was hit by a pitch, and Jorbit Vivas followed with a single to open the bottom of the first. Following a wild pitch, Gauthier came home on a ground out from Imanol Vargas, and Vivas later scored on a two-out hit by Eddys Leonard.
Vivas upped the lead to 3-0 with his 11th home run in the second inning. The solo drive nearly cleared the grass berm in right field.
The Cardinals scored their first run in the top of the third on an error. With two outs and Victor Scott at second base and Mike Antico at first, both runners took off on a double steal attempt. When catcher Diego Cartaya's throw skipped into left field, Scott came in to score.
Tulsa got the run back in the fifth inning. Vivas led off with a base hit and eventually scored on a ground out from Leonard.
The Drillers increased the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Vivas.
A two-run double by Jacob Buchburger in eighth inning pulled the Cardinals to within two runs, but they would get no closer.
Casparius pitched effectively but fell two outs short of qualifying for the victory. In his 4.1 innings, he allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out four. The one run he surrendered was unearned.
Ben Harris got the final two outs in the fifth before Robbie Peto came on to start the top of the sixth. Peto pitched three innings and gave up two runs on four hits.
Ricky Vanasco worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to collect his first professional save.
TEXAS LEAGUE STANDINGS* TEXAS LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*With his first inning single, Leonard extended his on-base streak to 24 straight games, the longest such streak this season for a Tulsa player. It is the longest on-base streak for a Driller since Michael Busch reached safely in 27 straight game during the 2021 season.
*Since Casparius didn't work the required five innings, Harris was credited with the victory to improve his season record to 2-3.
*The Cardinals stole four bases in the game. On the season, the Drillers have allowed a total of 154 steals with runners having an 85.5% success rate.
*Tulsa now has a 9-4 record against Springfield this season, including a 6-1 mark at ONEOK Field.
*In the second half of the season, the Drillers have a 5-2 home record compared to just a 3-12 record on the road.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their six-game series on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled to be 7:05 p.m. at ONEOK Field, and the starting pitchers are slated to be:
Springfield - RHP Connor Lunn (3-5, 5.23 ERA)
Tulsa - RHP Nick Nastrini (5-2, 3.88 ERA)
Images from this story
 Tulsa Drillers' Jorbit Vivas at bat (Rich Crimi) |
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