Lux and De Fratus Lead Drillers to Victory
Published on August 2, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
After losing some key members of the team due to trades and promotions, some new faces would have to take the reigns and keep the winning ways going as the Tulsa Drillers took on the Arkansas Travelers on Thursday night. In his first Double-A game, Gavin Lux did just that with three hits, and Drillers starter Justin De Fratus was masterful in the 5-1 victory for Tulsa at ONEOK Field.
The Drillers quickly got the scoring started early in the game and plated runs in the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, the Drillers used some small ball to manufacture a run. Singles by Lux and Wes Darvill set up a Cael Brockmeyer RBI single for the game's first run.
An inning later, Zach McKinstry singled and Eric Peterson doubled to put runners at second and third. Darvill then added another single that brought home both runners and gave the Drillers a 3-0 lead.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth. Logan Landon knocked a double, then Gavin Lux followed by crushing a towering home run onto the grass berms in right field to extend Tulsa's lead to 5-0.
Drillers starter De Fratus made it all the way to the eighth inning, and dominated the Travs having allowed only three hits through his first seven innings. Arkansas would threaten in the eighth after an error by Lux and a walk put two men on base, putting an end to De Fratus' night.
Michael Johnson came out of the bullpen, and immediately surrendered the first Arkansas run after a double by Eric Filia. Johnson came back out for the ninth and struck out the first batter, then gave up a pair of singles. But he would get out of the jam as got Donnie Walton to ground into a double play to end the game, sealing the Drillers 5-1 win.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Brockmeyer's first inning single extended his hitting streak to ten games, currently the longest on the team. During the stretch, he is hitting .343 with two homers and eight RBI.
*Peterson extended his hitting streak to five games with his double in the second inning. He is hitting .417 since being called up to the Drillers.
*De Fratus' 7.2 innings is the longest outing by a Drillers starting pitcher all season. This beat his previous high of 7.1 innings set on July 28 against Arkansas. Over his last two starts against the Travs, De Fratus has pitched 15 innings and has allowed only one earned run on seven hits.
*The victory extends the Drillers lead in the Texas League North Division to four games.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will take on the Travelers in game two of the four-game series on Friday night. First pitch at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with the probable starting pitchers being:
ARK Williams Perez (2-1, 2.93 ERA)
TUL Dustin May (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Texas League Stories from August 2, 2018
- Three-Run Fifth Does the Trick in 4-1 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Roll to Series Opening Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Lux and De Fratus Lead Drillers to Victory - Tulsa Drillers
- 2018 Texas League Playoff Tickets On-Sale Now - Arkansas Travelers
- RockHounds Rally Falls Just Short - Midland RockHounds
- Cardinals Series Highlights: August 2 - August 5 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Sweep Missions with Win in Extras - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Nogowski Walks off Cardinals in 10th, Secures 5-4 Comeback - Springfield Cardinals
- Travs Rally Past Naturals, 13-7 - Arkansas Travelers
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