Drillers Sweep Doubleheader from the Naturals
April 27, 2018 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers used two different ways to sweep a doubleheader from Northwest Arkansas Friday night at ONEOK Field. In the opener, the Drillers jumped to a big lead only to watch the Naturals rally to tie the game, setting up a game-winning, walk-off hit from Errol Robinson in a 6-5 victory. In the nightcap, the Drillers used dominant pitching to post a 2-1 win and complete the sweep.
The first game began as if it would be an easy victory for the Drillers, but it ended up being anything but easy.
Tulsa scored in each of the first three innings to take an initial four-run lead. In the first, Yusniel Diaz drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Jacob Scavuzzo.
A two-out homer by Mike Ahmed in the second inning doubled the lead, before the Drillers extended the margin to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. Will Smith doubled home Kyle Garlick, and Drew Jackson singled in Scavuzzo.
Tulsa starting pitcher Devin Smeltzer breezed through the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. The lefthander hit the first batter of the inning, then surrendered a two-run homer to Luis Villegas. With one out and a runner on first, Karch Kowalczyk relieved Smeltzer and was greeted by a run-scoring single from Elier Hernandez that trimmed the Tulsa lead to a single run.
The Drillers got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the fifth, when consecutive singles by Scavuzzo and Smith to open the inning put runners at the corners with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Jackson scored Scavuzzo to give Tulsa a 5-3 lead.
Four straight singles off Kowalczyk to open the sixth plated two more runs for the Naturals and tied the game at 5-5, and set up Robinson's heroics.
The winning rally began with a lead-off single from Scavuzzo and a walk to Smith. After a strikeout, Ahmed loaded the bases when he reached safely on an infield hit. One pitch later, Robinson dropped a base hit into centerfield, plating Scavuzzo with the game-winning run.
In game two, Drillers pitchers flirted with a no-hitter. Starter Emmanual De Leon, who at one point this season allowed 11 straight batters to reach safely, blanked the Naturals through the first three innings, issuing only a pair of walks.
Vinny Santarsiero followed De Leon to the mound and kept the no-hitter in place through innings four and five, but the bid ended with one out in the top of the sixth when Samir Duenas delivered a monstrous home run that cleared the grass berm beyond the right field fence to cut the Drillers lead to 2-1.
Following the homer, the next batter singled to end Santarsiero's excellent stint. Shea Spitzbarth came on from the Tulsa bullpen and continued his strong early-season form. Spitzbarth got the final two outs in the sixth, then worked around a one-out single in the seventh to close out the win and pick up his first save of the year.
Tulsa's two runs both scored in the fifth inning. The red-hot Scavuzzo started things with a leadoff base hit. Keibert Ruiz and Peter O'Brien followed with a pair singles to load the bases with no outs. Jackson brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly. After another infield single by Ahmed re-loaded the bases, Robinson plated Ruiz with a fly out to right field for what would prove to be his second game-winning RBI of the night.
WHAT YOU MISSED
Scavuzzo hit safely in both games, extending his hitting streak to 12 straight games. The outfielder now has at least one hit in every game that he has batted this year.
Smith caught the first game for the Drillers and had two hits, but he also shined in the field. He caught one attempted base stealer and picked another runner off second base.
De Leon had made two appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City before returning to the Drillers. He was activated just prior to the start of the doubleheader, while infielder Connor Joe was placed on the disabled list.
Josh Sborz allowed just one hit in two shutouts innings to collect the win in the first game. Sborz, who has pitched primarily as Tulsa's closer, has already picked up three wins this year.
Jackson had hits in each game and has now hit safely in 13 of the 16 games he has played this season.
Santarsiero, who was pitching in just his second game at the Double-A level, picked up the win in the second game.
UP NEXT
The Drillers and Naturals will head to Springdale, Arkansas for the next two games of their four-game set while ONEOK Field hosts a pair of Bedlam games. Starting time on Saturday night is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The pitching matchup will be:
NWA LHP Foster Griffin (1-2, 4.15 ERA)
TUL RHP Dennis Santana (0-1, 1.50 ERA)
Texas League Stories from April 27, 2018
- Missions Walk off 'Hounds with Naylor's Double in Ninth - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Sweep Doubleheader from the Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Payano Nearly Flawless But Hooks Win Wild Opener in 10 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Sweep Naturals in Double-Header - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- 8 Millionth Fan, Next Party @ the Yard Highlight Homestand - Frisco RoughRiders
- Astros Replica World Series Ring Giveaway June 24 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Homestand Highlights: April 28 - April 29 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Thomas' 8th-Inning Homer Secures Cardinals Sweep, Ties Birds for 1st - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Pitching Struggles in Series Finale - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Hold off Travs, 3-2 - Arkansas Travelers
- Late Homer Dooms Naturals in 4-3 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- De Leon Gives 'Riders Series Split - San Antonio Missions
- Raley Launches a Pair of Homers in Drillers Victory - Tulsa Drillers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
