TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Late Homers from Calhoun, Garlick Carry Drillers

Published on June 16, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning, the Tulsa Drillers offense quickly came to life on Thursday evening in North Little Rock, thanks to Andrew Toles and Willie Calhoun. Tulsa came away with a 4-3 victory thanks to a pair of late 2-run home runs, and solid pitching from the bullpen. The victory maintained Tulsa's half-game lead in the North Division of the Texas League, as Springfield also came away with a victory on Thursday night.

Arkansas Travelers starter Victor Alcantara had held the Drillers to just a single hit through the first five innings of the ballgame. That's when red-hot Andrew Toles came to the plate and turned things around for the Drillers.

Toles, coming off a five-hit game on Wednesday night, laced a double to get into scoring position for Calhoun in the top of the sixth. Willie, who had a five-RBI game on Wednesday, picked up right where he left off the night before, ripping a pitch down the right-field line for a two run home-run to tie the game at 2.

The middle of the order took over for the Drillers in the seventh inning, giving the Drillers their first lead of the night.

Belinger drew a lead-off walk off Travelers reliever Josh Roenicke. Kyle Garlick, the 28th round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers last June, came to the plate looking to help start a rally. He did a little more than that, depositing a Roenicke pitch over the wall in right field to give the Drillers a 4-2 lead.

It was Garlick's first home run at the AA level, after having already clobbered 11 in 49 games for Rancho Cucamonga earlier this season.

Arkansas designated hitter Jabari Henry hit his second home run in as many days to bring the score to 4-3 in the bottom half of the seventh, but the Drillers bullpen shut down any opportunity of a comeback. Daniel Corcino and Caleb Dirks set down the final 9 batters of the game in order, with Dirks closing out the game by striking out Henry.

Jeremy Kehrt recorded a quality start for the Drillers, and pitched very effectively despite a hiccup in the first frame.

After quickly recording the first two outs, Kehrt allowed a single to Alex Yarbrough, who was brought home on a home run from Eric Aguilera to give the Travelers an early 2-0 lead.

Kehrt settled in rather nicely after the first inning, stranding 4 base runners over the next five innings.

Andrew Toles, despite going only 1-3 in the game, reached base three times thanks to a pair of walks to go along with his sixth-inning double. Over the last two games, Toles has reached base in eight of his last eleven plate appearances.

Tulsa will look to extend their division lead on Friday night in the third game of the four game set against the Arkansas Travelers. Troy Scribner (4-3, 4.57ERA) will toe the rubber for the Travelers, while the Drillers will send Scott Barlow (3-3, 2.83ERA) to the bump. The first pitch is slated for 7:10PM from Dickey-Stephens Park.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 16, 2016


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