Long Day Ends with First Double-A Win for Rogers
Published on September 2, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Brandon Dixon of the Tulsa Drillers
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
Wednesday was a long and eventful day for pitcher Rob Rogers. Rogers made his Double-A debut as the starting pitcher for the Tulsa Drillers after an early morning departure from Rancho Cucamonga, California. The long travel day seemed to have little effect on the right-hander as he turned in his longest outing of the season to help Tulsa defeat Northwest Arkansas 5-2 at ONEOK Field.
Brandon Dixon receives congratulations following his third-inning homer that helped the Drillers defeat Northwest Arkansas 5-2 at ONEOK Field Wednesday night. (Rich Crimi)
The victory for the Drillers allowed them to mathematically keep their post-season chances alive. They now trail first-place Arkansas by four games with five games remaining in the regular season.
Rogers' day of travel was necessary after Deck McGuire received an in-game promotion to Triple-A on Tuesday. McGuire was scheduled to be the Drillers starting pitcher for Wednesday's game but instead picked up a win in relief for Oklahoma City late on Tuesday in the second game of a marathon doubleheader.
Rogers took advantage of his quick promotion, working five innings to record the victory in his debut. He allowed only one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five in what was only his second-ever professional start. Rogers had pitched in relief in his first 116 professional games before making his first start last week for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Scott Griggs followed Rogers to the mound after enduring a similar travel day from Midland, Michigan where he was pitching for the Great Lakes Loons. Griggs pitched two relief innings and allowed one run on two hits and struck out three while also making his Double-A debut.
The strong pitching for Tulsa continued with Grant Dayton. Dayton worked the final two innings, striking out all six hitters that he faced to close out the win and record his first save of the season.
The Drillers had to come from behind to claim the win after the Naturals used a two-out rally in the first inning to open the scoring. With the bases empty, Jorge Bonifacio singled and scored on a double by Alex Liddi.
Tulsa used a pair of home runs in the third to take the lead. Jarek Cunningham led off with his seventh homer to even the score. After a pair of strikeouts, Peter Lavin singled to keep the inning alive. Brandon Dixon followed with a drive high onto the berm in left-centerfield to make it 3-1. For Dixon, it was his eighth Double-A homer of the season.
The Drillers added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Yadir Drake singled and Cunningham drew a walk. Daniel Mayora followed with a lined base hit into centerfield, and Drake scored from second, avoiding the tag of Naturals catcher Parker Morin, to increase the margin to 4-1.
The Naturals scored their second and final run off Griggs in the top of the seventh. A two-out double from Morin scored Lane Adams to pull Northwest Arkansas to within 4-2.
Dixon closed the game's scoring in the bottom half of the seventh when he doubled and scored to restore Tulsa's three-run lead.
The two teams will be back in action Thursday night in the next-to-last home game of the regular season at ONEOK Field. Jose De Leon (2-6, 3.88 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Drillers, while the Naturals will counter with ex-major leaguer Paul Clemens (0-1, 9.31 ERA). It's a Thirsty Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05PM in downtown Tulsa.
Images from this story
 Brandon Dixon of the Tulsa Drillers (Rich Crimi) |
Texas League Stories from September 2, 2015
- Young Martes: Money against RoughRiders - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Long Day Ends with First Double-A Win for Rogers - Tulsa Drillers
- Martes Quiets Frisco Bats in 5-0 Loss - Frisco RoughRiders
- San Antonio's Offense Breaks out to Snap Home Losing Streak - San Antonio Missions
- Suarez Shoulders Travs in 4-2 Victory - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Fall in Tulsa, 5-2 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Even Series with 4-2 Win on Wednesday - Springfield Cardinals
- Parks and Slack to Play in Arizona Fall League - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hammons Field Wins Fifth Straight Texas League Field of the Year Award - Springfield Cardinals
- Five Naturals Selected to Represent Royals in 2015 Arizona Fall League - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- (This Time) Numbers Don't Lie - Midland RockHounds
- Miss Hillburn Is Grumpy; the RockHounds Are Drenched - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Come-From-Behind for Walk-Off Win - Tulsa Drillers
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