Raley Launches a Pair of Homers in Drillers Victory
April 27, 2018 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
A rainout the previous day did not cool off the bat of Luke Raley as the Tulsa Drillers returned to action Thursday night looking to salvage a win against the Arkansas Travelers. The versatile Raley belted a pair of home runs and propelled the Drillers to a 3-2 victory over the Travs.
Raley's first homer came with two outs in the top of the third when he opened the scoring by launching a solo shot to put Tulsa on the board.
After a leadoff double in the bottom of the third, Travelers catcher Joseph Odom homered to left to give Arkansas the 2-1 advantage. This was Odom's second consecutive long-ball dating back to Tuesday afternoon when he delivered the heartbreaking three-run game winner against the Drillers.
The Travs lead did not last long. In the top half of the fourth, Will Smith smacked a clutch two-out single to plate Yusniel Diaz and evened the score at 2-2.
Raley led off the top of the fifth and decided that one homer was not enough. On a 2-1 count, the lefty launched an opposite-field solo shot that put the Drillers back in the lead at 3-2. The homer would be the game-winner.
The Drillers rested bullpen was sensational in this one. Corey Copping replaced starting pitcher Frank Duncan in the bottom of the fifth and shut down the Arkansas bats for 2.1 innings, only giving up a pair of singles. Ariel Hernandez replaced Copping in the eighth and recorded four straight outs.
Dylan Baker came in the bottom of the ninth with a chance at his first save of the season. He struck out the first batter, and then gave up a walk. After pitching coach Dave Borkowski paid him a visit to settle things down, Baker got Braden Bishop to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to preserve the Drillers 3-2 win.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Smith gunned out two Arkansas baserunners attempting to steal.
*Raley has now hit safely in five consecutive games, all of which have been multi-hit campaigns.
*Besides giving up the long-ball in the third, Drillers starter Duncan was good in his 4.1 innings of work.
*The Drillers win came against one of the top pitchers in the Texas League. Prior to this game, Arkansas starter Johendi Jiminan was fifth in the league with a 1.72 ERA and had only given up three runs in his three other starts.
UP NEXT
The Drillers return home to ONEOK Field to take on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in a twin bill on Friday afternoon in downtown Tulsa. The probable pitchers for the two games are:
Game 1
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS Emilio Ogando (2-1, 5.14 ERA)
TULSA Devin Smeltzer (0-0, 5.19 ERA)
Game 2
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS Glenn Sparkman (1-1, 3.95 ERA)
TULSA TBD
Texas League Stories from April 27, 2018
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- Thomas' 8th-Inning Homer Secures Cardinals Sweep, Ties Birds for 1st - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Pitching Struggles in Series Finale - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Hold off Travs, 3-2 - Arkansas Travelers
- Late Homer Dooms Naturals in 4-3 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- De Leon Gives 'Riders Series Split - San Antonio Missions
- Raley Launches a Pair of Homers in Drillers Victory - Tulsa Drillers
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