Smeltzer Outstanding in Critical Win for Drillers
Published on June 15, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers remained in the thick of the Texas League's pennant race Friday night, and they can thank pitcher Devin Smeltzer for it. The lefthander was outstanding in a critical matchup with Northwest Arkansas at ONEOK Field, blanking blanked the Naturals through the first seven innings and helping Tulsa to a 3-1 victory.
The win was the second straight for the Drillers and their fifth in the past seven games. With only three games remaining in the first half, Tulsa is now one game behind the second-place Naturals in the North Division standings and two games behind first-place Springfield.
For Smeltzer, it was his second straight dominant start. He held the Naturals to only four hits in his seven scoreless innings, walking two and striking out four. He has now won his last two starts, working a season high seven inning in each.
In Friday's matchup, Smeltzer was matched through the first four innings by Northwest Arkansas starter Jake Kalish. The game was a scoreless battle before the Drillers broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Keibert Ruiz opened the inning by lining a double down the left field line. Jacob Scavuzzo brought Ruiz home with the game's first run when he delivered a ground-rule double. After an errant pickoff attempt, Scavuzzo crossed the plate when Errol Robinson grounded out sharply to first.
The Drillers were still not finished. Third baseman Will Smith capped the big fifth inning with a solo home run, his seventh of the season, to give Smeltzer and the Drillers a 3-0 lead.
The Naturals got their only run of the game in the eighth inning, and it was unearned. With one out, Erick Mejia singled off reliever Brian Moran. The next batter, Nicky Lopez, reached safely when Smith fielded his bunt and threw wildly past first, putting the Northwest Arkansas runners at second and third. Moran survived the trouble, retiring Elier Hernandez on a sacrifice fly that plated the Naturals run before getting a ground out to end the inning.
Moran recorded the first out in the ninth inning before giving way for Corey Copping. Copping needed just seven pitches to record the final two outs and collect his second save.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Tulsa continued its stellar play against the Naturals at ONEOK Field. On the season, the Drillers have won six of seven meetings in Tulsa between the two teams.
*Smeltzer lowered his season ERA to 4.90 with the scoreless outing. In addition, he has worked at least five innings in each of his last six starts.
*The Drillers committed three errors in the game and now have a league high 81 errors on the season.
*The contest matched the quickest nine-inning game of the season for the Drillers, lasting just 2 hours and 18 minutes.
UP NEXT
The Drillers and Naturals will wrap up their four-game series Saturday night at ONEOK Field. The finale will begin at 7:05 PM, and the probable starting pitcher are scheduled to be:
NWA Foster Griffin (3-6, 5.63 ERA)
TUL Logan Bawcom (1-4, 4.50 ERA)
Texas League Stories from June 15, 2018
- Josh Morgan's Walk-Off Homer Sinks San Antonio - Frisco RoughRiders
- Smeltzer Outstanding in Critical Win for Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Taylor 's HR Carries Travs Back into First Place - Arkansas Travelers
- Pitchers' Duel Leans the Way of Tulsa in 3-1 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Jose Trevino Promoted Directly from Frisco to Rangers - Frisco RoughRiders
- Homestand Highlights: June 17 - June 20 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Dominate North Division All-Star Roster - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Get Your Astros Replica World Series Ring on June 24 - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Rain-Shortened Game Ends in 5-1 Loss for Cardinals - Springfield Cardinals
- Quantrill Stymies Riders in Missions 2-1 Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Survive Storm in Springfield, Win 5-1 - Arkansas Travelers
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