TL Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Suffer First Loss in Frisco

August 17, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Frisco, TX - For the third consecutive game, the Tulsa Drillers pitching staff kept the Frisco RoughRiders offense at bay, but unlike the first two games, it was not enough for a victory. The Drillers offense outhit the RoughRiders 7-6 on Thursday but stranded eight base runners, resulting in a 3-2 loss at Riders Field.

Tulsa trailed 2-1 for the majority of the game, and Frisco scored what turned out to be the winning run in the eighth inning. Tulsa answered with a run in the ninth but left the potential game-tying run stranded at first base.

It Neither team scored a run in the first inning, but both sides managed to plate a run in the second. On the first pitch of the inning, Kody Hoese blasted a solo home run. It was his ninth homer of the season. Frisco scored its first run on a ground out to Hoese, which allowed Liam Hicks to score from third base.

It only took two pitches in the bottom of the third inning for the RoughRiders to take a 2-1 lead. On the first pitch, Evan Carter tripled and scored one pitch later on a wild pitch from Kendall Williams.

After their second-inning run, the Drillers earned only two more hits off Frisco starting pitching Dane Acker. Acker, who pitched collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, tossed four and one-third innings, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Williams made his third start with Tulsa, and the right-hander worked four and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Williams finished with six strikeouts and has 20 punchouts in his first three starts with Tulsa.

After Williams left the game, Antonio Knowles and Tanner Dodson kept Frisco scoreless over the next two and one-third innings. Neither one allowed a hit and registered one strikeout each.

In the eighth inning, the RoughRiders earned three singles off Tulsa reliever Jake Pilarski to score their third run and make the score 3-1.

Frisco's eighth-inning run proved crucial as Tulsa plated its second run in the top of the ninth. With one out, Luis Diaz doubled to right center field and advanced to third one batter later on a fly out. Ismael Alcantara singled to score Diaz to make it a one-run game. The Drillers could not produce any more offense as RoughRiders closer Antoine Kelly struck out Austin Gauthier three pitches later.

HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS

*Yusniel Diaz earned a hit in the first inning and has reached base in 16 straight games. He has also recorded a hit in 15 of his last 16 games.

*Alcantara increased his hitting streak to nine straight games.

*Williams received his first loss with the Drillers as he allowed two of Frisco's three runs.

*In the fourth inning, Williams was one pitch away from completing an immaculate inning. Aaron Zavala fouled off what would have been Williams' third strikeout in only nine pitches. Zavala struck out four pitches later.

*Pilarski made his first appearance on the mound for the Drillers since July 1.

UP NEXT:

The Drillers and RoughRiders will play the fourth game of their six-game series at 7:05 p.m. Friday night at Riders Field. The starting pitcher are slated to be:

Tulsa - RHP River Ryan (1-0, 0.90 ERA)

Frisco - RHP Seth Nordlin (1-4, 5.44 ERA)

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics



Texas League Stories from August 17, 2023


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