TL Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Win Streak Ends with Loss at NW Arkansas

Published on June 2, 2021 under Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Springdale, AR - The Tulsa Drillers saw their season high five-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday night in the opening game of a six-game series at Northwest Arkansas. The Naturals scored two early runs off Tulsa starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and the Drillers offense was limited to just five hits as Northwest claimed a 4-1 win at Arvest Ballpark.

The Drillers entered the game in a first-place tie with Wichita, but dropped one game behind the Wind Surge in the North Division of the Double-A Central.

The Naturals got all the offense they needed early in the game when they scored twice in the bottom of the second inning. Pepiot retired four of the first five hitters in the game before surrendering a one-out, infield single in the second to Brewer Hicklen. Dairon Blanco followed with his first home run of the season to give the Naturals a 2-0 lead.

After the homer, the Naturals sandwiched a base hit and a walk around a strikeout, ending Pepiot's night.

Justin Hagenman escaped further trouble in the second, but gave up a leadoff double in the third that led to another run for the Naturals.

Tulsa's only run in the game came in the top of the sixth when Jeren Kendall led off with his third home run of the year, cutting the deficit to 3-1, but Northwest Arkansas got the run back in the seventh.

The Drillers threatened in ninth, getting the tying run to the plate with just one out after back-to-back singles by Kody Hoese and Ryan Noda, but Carlos Rincon and Jacob Amaya were retired on strikeouts to end the game.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

*Pepiot lasted just 1.2 innings, his shortest outing of the season. He was charged with two runs, the most he has surrendered in five starts, but his ERA rose to just 2.12.

*Pitcher Bryan Brickhouse made his Drillers debut after signing a minor league free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brickhouse surrendered one hit while working 1.1 scoreless relief innings.

*Bobby Witt Jr., one of the top rated prospects in Minor League Baseball, finished 2-4 for the Naturals, raising his season average to .245.

*The loss for Pepiot was his first decision of the season.

UP NEXT

Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas, Wednesday, June 2, 7:05 PM at Arvest Ballpark. Tulsa RHP Gerardo Carrillo (0-0, 3.18 ERA) versus NWA RHP Stephen Woods Jr. (0-0, 16.00 ERA).

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics

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