Hooks Sink Drillers in Series Finale
July 5, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Drillers starter Jose De Leon prepares to deliver a pitch Saturday night. The right-hander came into the night leading all Minor Leaguers in strikeouts. (Photo by Rich Crimi)
Fireworks echoed over ONEOK Field throughout much of the night as Oklahomans celebrated America's Independence. A fifth consecutive sellout crowd packed the ballpark for the eleventh time this season to witness the series finale between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Drillers, along with a 4th of July post-game fireworks show. But it was the Hooks who provided the fireworks on the field as they dropped the Drillers 5-1 Saturday night.
Jose De Leon started the game for the Drillers as the Minor League leader in total strikeouts with a combined 107 so far this year. The flame-throwing Dodgers prospect added to that count as he picked up five more on the night, but he would also be tagged for five runs before his night was done.
The Hooks opened the scoring in the top of the second. Colin Moran began his big night for Corpus as he lined a double to center before coming around to score on a two-out base hit from Danry Vasquez giving the Hooks the quick 1-0 advantage.
The club from the Gulf added another run in the third, this one without the benefit of a hit. Corpus second baseman Chan Moon led off the inning with a walk, stole second and then moved to third on a groundout. He would then come home as Jiovanni Mier cashed him in with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead for the Hooks.
Brian Burgamy answered for the Drillers in the home half of the third as he smacked a booming double off the wall in right-center field to plate Torreyes from first. The ball just missed going over the fence for a game-tying homer. As it was, Torreyes' run made the score 2-1 which would be the closest the Drillers got the rest of the night.
De Leon was solid over the middle innings before another leadoff walk to begin the sixth would come back to hurt him and the Drillers yet again.
Back-to-back walks to Mier and Jon Kemmer to start the sixth prompted a quick trip to the mound from his pitching coach, Matt Herges. The break appeared to help De Leon as he struck out Brandon Meredith looking for the first out of the inning. But Moran broke the game open as he cleared the bases with a triple to end De Leon's night.
Manager Razor Shines brought in Jorge De Leon in relief but Conrad Gregor promptly greeted the second De Leon with an RBI base knock of his own to score Moran, pushing the Hooks advantage to 5-1. The next batter grounded into an inning-ending double play, but the damage had been done.
Moran personally accounted for four of the five Corpus runs on the night as he finished his night 2-4 with a double and a triple while collecting two RBI and scoring two runs.
The Drillers were held hitless after the third inning until Peter Lavin grounded a base hit through the right side with two outs in the seventh. But Lavin would be the last Tulsa baserunner for the night as Jarek Cunningham grounded out to third to end the inning.
Chris Cotton and Travis Ballew kept the Drillers off the scoreboard for the second half of the game as the Hooks clinched the series with the 5-1 win.
Corpus starter Michael Feliz, pitching for the first time since being sent down from the Houston Astros, turned in five strong innings to pick up the win for the Hooks.
Despite the loss, the 8,398 fans in attendance enjoyed the festivities as U.S. military veterans were honored multiple times during the game. A silent auction was also held for the patriotic jerseys and hats worn by the Drillers during the weekend with all the proceeds going to support the Folds of Honor Foundation.
San Antonio comes into town on Sunday as the Missions and the Drillers begin a 3-game series. Chris Anderson (7-4, 3.52 ERA) will start the game for Tulsa while Justin Hancock (6-4, 2.98 ERA) will oppose him for San Antonio. It will be the final day game of the year at ONEOK Field as the game is scheduled to begin at 2:05PM.
Texas League Stories from July 5, 2015
- Homers by Cantwell and Cordell Lift Riders - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Fall in Opener at Midland, 3-2 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Tulsa Wins against San Antonio - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Declare Their Independence - Midland RockHounds
- Early Runs Pace Travs on July 4th - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Sink Drillers in Series Finale - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Derail Drillers - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Huge Crowd Sees Naturals Win 3-2 in Extras - Frisco RoughRiders
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