Three Amarillo Homers Highlight Win At Tulsa

TULSA, OK. (June 7, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (24-32) defeated the Tulsa Drillers (24-32), 6-4, on Saturday night at ONEOK Field. The Soddies mash three home runs on the evening and get a strong performance from the bullpen to earn the win.

It would be Tulsa who scratched the first run of the game this evening as four consecutive walks brought across Griffin Lockwood-Powell for the 1-0 Drillers lead in the first.

The Sod Poodles bounced back in the top of the second with a two-run frame that featured an RBI single from Ivan Melendez to tie the game. Kevin Graham roped one towards the Tulsa first baseman, allowing Melendez to sprint home on the fielding error to give Amarillo the 2-1 advantage.

Tulsa equalized in the home half courtesy of an Ezequiel Pagan single to knot the game at two. The Drillers would make it three straight innings with a run as they plated two in the bottom of the third. A John Rhodes fielder’s choice and a Sean McLain RBI knock gave the Drillers a 4-2 lead.

Still trailing in the top of the fifth, Jesus Valdez singled to kickstart a three-run inning that saw Kristian Robinson tie the game at four with a two-run bomb to left. Tommy Troy followed Robinson with a solo shot of his own to go back-to-back with the center fielder, putting Amarillo back in front.

Valdez checked in with his second knock of the game in the sixth as he launched his third home run of the year deep beyond the left field wall to extend the Sod Poodles’ advantage to two.

Amarillo continued to blank the home team through the final innings. Landon Sims took the hill for the final two frames, striking out five Tulsa batters to complete the 6-4 Sod Poodles win.

The series finale at Tulsa is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Amarillo will send RHP Cesar Gomez (1-1, 3.50) to the hill for his second start of the season while Tulsa hands the ball to RHP Peter Heubeck (1-3, 5.40).

POSTGAME NOTES

HERE’S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON: Collecting three hits in tonight’s contest was Kristian Robinson...he launched his eighth home run of the season, tying him for second-most among Sod Poodles this year...becomes the second Sod Poodle in 2025 to collect a three-hit game while slugging a home run and picking up a stolen base (Jack Hurley, 5/20 at Corpus Christi)...his seventh-inning swipe of second base was his 16th stolen base of the year, making it four straight games with a stolen base, tying for the second-longest streak in the Texas League this season.

GREETINGS FROM OLYMPUS: Checking in with a multi-hit performance this evening was Jesus Valdez as the shortstop went 3-for-4 with two runs, a home run, and an RBI...his first multi-hit game as a Sod Poodle this season...three of his seven hits for Amarillo this year have been home runs...his second three-hit game in his career when getting the start at shortstop, most recently earning three hits on May 14, 2023 as the High-A Hillsboro Hops shortstop.

MASHED POTATOES: Tonight’s performances from Kristian Robinson, Tommy Troy, and Jesus Valdez all included multi-hit efforts with a home run, making it the third time this season the Sod Poodles have had three players with that line in a single game (4/22 vs. SA, 4/26 vs. SA)...Amarillo is now 3-0 in such games.