Solbach Masterful in Drillers 3-1 Win
August 2, 2019 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
TULSA - Tulsa Drillers pitcher Markus Solbach made his first-ever Double-A start Friday night and it was a memorable debut. The right-hander, who was born in Germany, limited Northwest Arkansas to just four hits over seven shutout innings and picked up the victory in a 3-1 Tulsa win at ONEOK Field.
Solbach, who was signed as a minor league free agent during the off-season by the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending the previous three seasons pitching in the independent leagues, was masterful against the Naturals. He needed only 79 pitches to complete his seven innings. He did not issue a walk while getting six strikeouts.
After Solbach set the Naturals down in order in the top of the first, the Drillers wasted little time in giving him a lead in the bottom half of the first. Drew Avans lined the first pitch from Naturals starter Ofreidy Gomez into the right field corner for a double. On the next pitch, Omar Estevez delivered his third home run of the season to put Tulsa in front 2-0.
The Drillers padded their margin in the third inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Zach McKinstry singled. Cristian Santana followed with a double into the left-center field gap to score McKinstry and increase the lead to 3-0.
The Drillers came within one out of recording their second straight shutout. The Naturals run came in the ninth when Dairon Blanco led off with a double. Ryan Moseley, who had worked a scoreless eighth inning, retired the next two batters before throwing a wild pitch that allowed Blanco to score.
After the wild pitch, Moseley retired Khalil Lee on a ground out to end the game and collect his first-ever Double-A save.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*The Drillers honored former coach Mike Coolbaugh during the game. Coolbaugh was a coach for the Drillers when he was struck and killed by a foul ball during a game at Arkansas in the 2007 season. Anyone wishing to donate to the Mike Coolbaugh Foundation, Diamond Dreams, can visit www.DiamondDreams.org.
*The wild pitch kept Tulsa from recording consecutive shutouts at ONEOK Field for the first time since the 2016 season when Trevor Oaks and Scott Barlow blanked Springfield over two straight games.
*The Drillers had six hits in the game with the first six hitters in the lineup getting one hit each.
*Solbach's performance overshadowed a strong outing from Naturals starting pitcher Ofreidy Gomez, who delivered an eight-inning complete game. Gomez allowed only one hit over his final five innings, retiring ten straight batters at one point.
*One night after playing their fastest game of the year, the Drillers nearly matched the feat. Friday's game took just 2:05 to complete, two minutes longer than Thursday's 1-0 win.
*Santana was honored as the Drillers Player of the Month for July by Dick's Sporting Goods.
UP NEXT: Northwest Arkansas at Tulsa, Saturday, August 3, 7:05 PM at ONEOK Field. RHP Jackson Kowar (1-4, 3.63 ERA) versus RHP Justin De Fratus (6-7, 4.77 ERA).
Texas League Stories from August 2, 2019
- Travs Hold Cards Down Again in 6-1 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Calabuig's Blast Hands Hooks Loss in Extras - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Homers Power Midland to Victory - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Burke Bests Amarillo in 5-2 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hodgetown Draws 21st Consecutive Sellout, Sod Poodles Fall to RoughRiders to Even Series - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Solbach Masterful in Drillers 3-1 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Gomez Goes the Distance in 3-1 Loss at Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Calabuig's Home Run Completes RockHound's Comeback - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Sneak by Cards, 2-1, in Opener - Springfield Cardinals
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