Drillers Team Effort Leads to 6-4 Victory
May 25, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
After falling behind early 4-1 to the top team in the Texas League, the Tulsa Drillers could have gotten down and thrown in the towel. But the hometown team rallied behind an opportunistic offense and a strong effort from five relief pitchers to come-from-behind and defeat the Frisco RoughRiders 6-4 Wednesday night at ONEOK Field.
The RoughRiders entered Wednesday boasting the best record in the Texas League with a 30-14 mark. And they looked the part early.
Facing Tim Shibuya, who came into the game having allowed just a single run in his first 13 innings with the Drillers, the RoughRiders wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.
Back-to-back singles started the game for Frisco with both runners coming around to score on a RBI double off the bat of Texas League RBI leader Ryan Cordell. Three batters later, Cordell came in to score himself on a single off the bat of Preston Beck, putting the RoughRiders on top 3-0.
The Drillers answered right back in the home half of the inning thanks in large part to their leadoff man, Andrew Toles.
The speedy outfielder began the inning with a base hit to left, and quickly moved to second when Kyle Farmer followed with a single off the second baseman's glove. Toles then swiped third before coming home on a run-scoring base knock by Alex Verdugo to trim the Frisco lead to 3-1.
It was just the beginning of a big night for Toles at the plate and on the base paths.
When Toles was previously in the Tampa organization, he was selected by the Rays as their Minor League Player of the Year as well as their Baserunner of the Year following the 2013 season. But Toles proved with his play Wednesday night that he was not content to sit idly by as if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
After Frisco added an unearned run in the top of the second inning on a Toles fielding error in centerfield, the Drillers leadoff man made up for it in the third.
Toles jumpstarted the Tulsa offense again as he led off the third, this time with a double. He then promptly followed with another steal of third to mark the second straight night he recorded two stolen bases. This one would prove key as Farmer followed with a sacrifice fly to bring the Drillers to within two of the RoughRiders.
The top of the fourth inning brought more hits for Frisco, but Shibuya was able to escape unscathed to keep Tulsa close.
The Drillers would ride that momentum into the bottom of the inning as they tied the game up thanks to an RBI single from Toles followed by another exciting play on the base paths.
With two outs and runners on first and third, Frisco starter Victor Payano nonchalantly tossed a pickoff throw over to first base. As soon as the southpaw made the lax throw to first, Adam Law took off for home and slid in safely past the tag to record the rare straight steal of home. The daring baserunning play knotted things up at 4-4.
Following scoreless innings of relief work from rehabbing big leaguer Frankie Montas along with Ralston Cash, the Drillers pulled ahead in the sixth.
Jacob Scavuzzo reached safely to start the frame with a double when the Frisco right fielder lost the ball in the lights. Two batters later, the Drillers found themselves with runners on the corners and one out. And once again Law delivered as he executed a perfect safety squeeze bunt to allow Scavuzzo to cross the plate with the go-ahead run, putting Tulsa on top for the first time 5-4.
Cash turned in a second shutout inning in the seventh, and Seth Frankoff and Michael Johnson combined to follow suit in the eighth to protect the narrow Tulsa advantage.
Willie Calhoun gave the Drillers some breathing room in the bottom of the eighth with a solo shot to the opposite field to put Tulsa firmly in front 6-4. The shot was Calhoun's sixth homer of the year.
The RoughRiders did threaten in the ninth against reliever Rob Rogers after a two-out single from Cordell brought the tying run to the plate. But Rogers was able to secure the victory by getting the next Frisco batter to line out to left to end the game.
Cash earned his third win of the year with his two scoreless innings of relief while Payano was saddled with his second loss of the year. Rogers was credited with his third save of the season.
The Drillers will come to the ballpark Thursday looking for their second home sweep of the season. Getting the start for Tulsa will be veteran Jeremy Kehrt (0-1, 6.00 ERA) while Frisco will counter with Sam Wolff (4-2, 5.22 ERA.) First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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