Parker, Oswalt see paths cross in Tulsa

Separated by a dozen years, Double-A Tulsa teammates Kyle Parker and Roy Oswalt are on different career paths.

Parker, the up-and-coming hitting prospect, is looking to prove his power numbers from a year ago weren't too inflated by the hitter-friendly California League. Oswalt, a three-time All-Star, is looking to use the Texas League to prove he can still compete as he tries to return to the Majors, where he spent his past 12 seasons.

Both found success on Wednesday night.

Parker went 2-for-4 with his 10th homer, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Oswalt allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings in the Drillers' 16-1 rout of the Midland RockHounds.

The Rockies' No. 5 prospect had an eight-game hitting streak snapped by Midland on Tuesday, but he responded Wednesday with a single in the second inning and a two-out two-run homer in the eighth.

The 23-year-old outfielder is hitting .265 with 22 RBIs in 50 games. Those numbers aren't on pace with last year's statistics -- 23 homers and 73 RBIs in 102 games in the friendly confines of Modesto.

As for Oswalt (1-1), his second look at the RockHounds lineup brought more success than the first.

In his season debut on Friday, Oswalt -- who's finished in the top six in voting for the Cy Young Award six times -- gave up three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three batters but served up two homers in his first outing since pitching for the Texas Rangers last October.

Signed by Texas to a $5 million contract exactly one year ago, Oswalt became a free agent and is trying to work his way back with the Rockies.

"This has been your life, for 17 years for me, since the Minor Leagues," the veteran right-hander told the Odessa American. "You get home and everyone's still working and you're sitting at home at 35 years old and you think, 'I got a little bit of life left in baseball.' You just kind of evaluate where you're at, and I decided to play until I can't play no more.'"

Jayson Langfels supported Oswalt with three hits and five RBIs, while Kiel Roling hit his 13th homer and drove in two runs. Kent Matthes added his seventh longball for the Drillers.

Midland starter Zach Neal (5-2) surrendered 11 runs on 13 hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out one.