TL Tulsa Drillers

Williams Delivers Impressive Debut in Drillers' Victory

August 11, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Tulsa Drillers' Kendall Williams on the mound
Tulsa Drillers' Kendall Williams on the mound
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)

TULSA, OK - Tulsa Drillers pitcher Kendall Williams made his first appearance at ONEOK Field Friday night, and it was an impressive debut. In just his second Double-A start, the right-hander delivered six shutout innings, and his teammates provided just enough offense to make him a winner. The Drillers scored in each of the first two innings and held the lead throughout in a 5-1 victory over Amarillo.

The 22-year-old Williams scattered three hits, and maybe more impressively, did not issue a walk. His debut was punctuated by seven strikeouts.

Williams had to out duel a major league veteran to pick up the victory. Peter Solomon, who has made 11 appearances in the majors for Arizona and Houston, started for the Sod Poodles and worked 5.2 innings.

Solomon was charged with three runs, but only one was earned. He was also hampered by four wild pitches.

Two of the runs against Solomon came in the first inning. Leadoff man Austin Gauthier singled, as did Yusniel Diaz, and both scored on a two-out error.

A run-scoring single by Ismael Alcantara in the second inning upped the lead to 3-0.

Imanol Vargas singled home a fourth run in the eighth inning before a wild pitch gave the Drillers a 5-0 lead.

It proved to be plenty of offense. Kevin Gowdy followed Williams to the mound and did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings.

The Sod Poodles ended Tulsa's bid for its 11th shutout of the season with a run in the ninth inning against Ricky Vanasco. The run came without a hit, due to three walks and an error.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*Williams needed just 71 pitches to cover his six innings, throwing 45 of them for strikes.

*The first-inning hit by Diaz extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games. He is hitting .462 in the streak, dating to July 30.

*Gauthier has now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.

*The win for Williams was just the 13th victory for a Drillers starting pitcher this season, fewest in the Texas League.

*The eighth-inning RBI from Vargas was his team-leading 67th of the year.

UP NEXT:

The Drillers and Sod Poodles will continue their series Saturday evening at ONEOK Field. Starting time for game five of the six-game series is slated for 7:05 p.m. and the starting pitchers are scheduled to be:

Amarillo -RHP Luke Albright (7-5, 5.40 ERA)

Tulsa - RHP Ben Casparius (0-5, 8.72 ERA)

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics




Images from this story

Tulsa Drillers' Kendall Williams on the mound
Tulsa Drillers' Kendall Williams on the mound
(Rich Crimi)		   



Texas League Stories from August 11, 2023


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