TL Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Win Third Straight to Split Series with Cardinals

Published on June 18, 2023 under Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MO -The six-game series between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals did not begin positively for the Drillers, as they lost the first three games. The final three games were a different story as Tulsa finished the series with three consecutive wins to split the series, capped by a 10-8 win on Sunday afternoon at Hammons Field.

The victory kept the Drillers in a first-place tie with Arkansas in the first-half division race with just one series remaining.

After a scoreless first inning, the Drillers fell behind when the Cardinals scored a run in each of the next four innings. In the bottom of the second, Justin Toerner hit an infield single that ricocheted off first baseman Imanol Vargas to second baseman Jorbit Vivas, but an offline throw allowed Arquimedes Gamboa to score from third.

The Cardinals next three runs scored on a balk by Nick Nastrini in the third inning, an RBI fielder's choice in the fourth, and a wild pitch in the fifth.

For the sixth consecutive game, the Drillers offense was held quiet by a Springfield starting pitcher. Wilfredo Pereira held Tulsa scoreless for the first five innings before the Drillers broke through.

Tulsa came storming back in the sixth inning to score seven runs and take a 7-4 lead. The big rally began with a single and two walks to load the bases. Pereira then hit Eddys Leonard with a pitch to force in the Drillers first run.

The Cardinals turned to the bullpen as Bryan Pope took the mound. With the bases still loaded, Diego Cartaya plated the Drillers second run with a sacrifice fly. Brandon Lewis followed an RBI single, and Hamlet Marte tied the game on an RBI fielder's choice.

Jose Ramos dove in two more runs with a single, and Vargas rounded out the big inning with a final RBI single.

Ramos extended the Drillers lead to 10-4 in the eighth with a three-run homer off Cardinals pitcher and former Driller Jose Martinez.

The Redbirds did not go down quietly, scoring four runs in the eighth inning with a two-RBI single and Nick Dunn's two-run homer, making the score 10-8.

Jordan Leasure closed out the game on the mound for Tulsa, recording the final four outs to record his sixth save of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*The start of the game was delayed 1 hour and 21 minutes due to rain showers at Hammons Field.

*Nastrini earned his third win of the season by working five innings and giving up six hits, four runs (three earned) and two walks with four strikeouts.

*Ramos had a big afternoon, finishing three for five with five RBI and two runs scored.

*Leasure is now six for six in save opportunities this season.

*Lewis finished with his first three-hit game of the season.

*The Drillers scored just 7 runs in 37.2 innings against Springfield starting pitchers this week.

*The Drillers scored at least seven runs in the game and that means fans can purchase a large, one-topping pizza from Mazzio's for just $7 on Monday. The special offer is good throughout the day and is only available online at Mazzios.com when you use the code DRILLERS at checkout.

UP NEXT:

Following an off day, the Drillers will return to action ONEOK Field on Tuesday, June 20 to play the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the final series of the first half of the Texas League schedule. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and neither starting pitcher has been announced.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 18, 2023


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