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TL Tulsa Drillers

Wichita Runs Past Drillers

May 14, 2024 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


TULSA, OK - The 2024 Propeller Series resumed Tuesday night at ONEOK Field, and the Wichita Wind Surge flew past the Tulsa Drillers. With the help of seven stolen bases, the Wind Surge ran out to a six-run lead and then held off a late rally from the Drillers to post a 6-3 win.

With the victory, Wichita takes the lead in this year's Propeller Series with four wins in seven meetings. The two teams will play a total of 24 regular season games this year, including five games over the next five days in Tulsa.

Coors Light will present the Propeller Trophy to the team that wins the season series.

The Wind Surge jumped in front quickly in Tuesday's series opener as four of the first five batters in the game reached safely against Drillers starting pitcher Orlando Ortiz-Mayr. An infield single and two walks loaded the bases and set up a two-run single from Tanner Schobel.

The score remained 2-0 until the sixth inning when Wichita added three more runs. After Tulsa reliever Ben Harris walked Alerick Soulaire on four pitches, the speedy left fielder stole second and third base. From there Ben Ross doubled him home before two more walks ended Harris' stint.

Kalai'i Rosario greeted Antonio Knowles with a sharp single to left that plated two more runs and upped the Wichita lead to 5-0.

The Wind Surge added another run in the top of the seventh inning before Diego Cartaya produced Tulsa's first run of the night in the bottom half of the seventh. With one out, the designated hitter belted a solo home run, giving him a homer in two straight games.

Cartaya struck again in the eighth inning. After a passed ball gave the Drillers their second run of the game, he lined a run-scoring single into right field to pull Tulsa to within 6-3.

It would represent Tulsa's final base runner of the night as the next four batters were retired in order to end the game.

Wichita starting pitcher Pierson Ohl collected the win with six shutout innings and a career high ten strikeouts. He struck out seven consecutive batters from one out in the first inning through two outs in the third.

Wichita ran freely on the bases in the game, going seven for eight in stolen base attempts. The seven steals were just two short of the ONEOK Field record of nine steals set by Arkansas on July 3, 2022 in a 14-4 win over the Drillers.

TEXAS LEAGUE STANDINGS * TEXAS LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

INSIDE THE GAMES

*With the result, the two teams switched positions in the North Division standings of the Texas League. Wichita moved into fourth place, Â1/2 game in front of the fifth place Drillers.

*In the past two games, Cartaya is a combined 5-8 with the two homers and five runs batted in.

*The home runs in consecutive games is nothing new for Cartaya. Last year with the Drillers, he homered in four straight games from May 28-June 1, in three straight games from August 5-8 and in two straight games August 22-23. The three stretches accounted for 9 of his 19 home runs last season. In 2022 with Great Lakes, Cartaya hit homers in three consecutive games on three different occasions.

*Following the difficult first inning, Tulsa starting pitcher Orlando Ortiz-Mayr pitched effectively. The right-hander worked a total of five innings, giving up six hits and three walks with five strikeouts while allowing just the two first-inning runs. The defeat dropped his season record to 1-3.

*Prior to the game, it was announced that Drillers relief pitcher Jake Pilarski had been placed on the Injured List, retroactive to May 12.

*Harris has given up 15 walks in just 12.1 innings pitched this season.

*Joining Cartaya with two-hit games were shortstop Alex Freeland and catcher Dalton Rushing.

*Rushing provided a humorous moment in the second inning. When Jorel Ortega led off with a swinging bunt up the third base line that he was easily going to beat out for a base hit, Rushing attempted to blow the roller foul.

UP NEXT:

The Drillers and Wind Surge will play the second game of their six-game series on Wednesday afternoon at ONEOK Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and the starting pitchers are expected to be:

WCH - RHP Zebby Matthews (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

TUL - RHP Kendall Williams (1-3, 8.49 ERA)

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Texas League Stories from May 14, 2024


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