Successful Road Trip Contines with Big Win
August 19, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Frisco, TX - The Tulsa Drillers continued a successful road trip to Texas with another big offensive performance Saturday night. The Drillers scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never trailed in posting a 10-4 win over Frisco at Riders Field.
The win clinched a series victory for Tulsa, just its second series win in the second half of the season. It also marked the second straight game that the Drillers reached double figures in runs scored.
Tulsa's big first inning was set up when Frisco starting pitcher Ryan Garcia walked the first two batters of the game. Both runners eventually came home on a one-out double from Imanol Vargas.
Following another walk, Luis Diaz singled home Vargas, and when left fielder Aaron Zavala misplayed the grounder, the fourth run of the inning scored for the Drillers.
Frisco cut the lead to 4-2 with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second. Zavala doubled and scored Frisco's first run on a base hit by Keyber Rodriguez. Two more hits plated Rodriguez for the second run of the inning.
The score remained the same until the Drillers added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Hamlet Marte opened the inning with a base hit and scored on a one-out double by Austin Gauthier. Gauthier later scored on a two-out single from Yusniel Diaz to up the lead to 6-2.
Frisco got one of the runs back in the bottom of the sixth when Kellen Strahm led off with a triple that was nearly tracked down by a sliding Josh Stowers in right field.
Following a sacrifice fly, Zavala's second hit of the game ended Tulsa starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr's night. Jack Little replaced Ortiz Mayr and ended the rally at just one run with consecutive strikeouts.
The Drillers put the game away with another four-run inning in the seventh that increased the lead to 10-3. After three walks loaded the bases, Ismael Alcantara singled home the first two runs.
Jorbit Vivas plated the third run with a fielder's choice grounder, and Yusniel Diaz brought home the tenth run with base hit.
A ninth-inning homer from Frisco's Jax Biggers closed out the scoring.
Tulsa starting pitcher Orlando Ortiz-Mayr picked up his second Double-A win and his first since his July 5 debut. Ortiz-Mayr worked 5.1 innings, allowing the three runs while striking out five.
HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS
*Temperature in Frisco at game time was 105 degrees.
*The Drillers have combined to score a total of 22 runs in the last two games. It is tied for the second-best two-game total of the season.
*The two runs batted in for Vargas gave him 81 on the season. He needs just eight more RBI to tie Cliff Brumbaugh and Craig Monroe for ninth place on the Drillers all-time, season RBI list. Both Brumbaugh and Monroe went on to play in the major leagues.
*Gauthier scored two runs in the game and has now scored 63 total runs in just 64 games with the Drillers.
*Yusniel Diaz has reached base in 18 consecutive games. In addition, he has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games. Diaz is hitting .397 (27-68) in those 18 games.
*Tulsa pitchers combined to issue only two walks in the game, while Frisco hurlers gave 11 free passes.
*Former major league lefthander Danny Duffy made his second appearance of the series and pitched two scoreless relief innings for Frisco.
*For the second straight game, the Drillers scored at least seven runs meaning fans can purchase large, one-topping pizzas from Mazzio's on Sunday for just $7 each. The special offer is good all day Sunday, but is only available online at Mazzios.com and when you use the promotion code DRILLERS at checkout.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers and RoughRiders will conclude their six-game series at 6:05 p.m. Sunday night at Riders Field. The starting pitchers are slated to be:
Tulsa - RHP Nick Frasso (3-4, 4.00 ERA)
Frisco - TBA
Texas League Stories from August 19, 2023
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