Drillers Championship Bid Falls Short
Three years ago, in 2014, the Tulsa Drillers fell in Game 5 of the Texas League Championship series to the Midland RockHounds on a rainy Sunday. Fast forward three years to 2017 and the Drillers found themselves in an eerily similar situation. After rain delayed the start of Sunday night's
Three years ago, in 2014, the Tulsa Drillers fell in Game 5 of the Texas League Championship series to the Midland RockHounds on a rainy Sunday. Fast forward three years to 2017 and the Drillers found themselves in an eerily similar situation. After rain delayed the start of Sunday night's Championship game 1 hour and 13 minutes, the Drillers found themselves down 1-0 early. And unfortunately, they would be unable to come up with the big hit to tie or win the game as the RockHounds claimed their fourth straight Texas League title with a narrow 1-0 victory at ONEOK Field.
The season-ending loss dampened an otherwise outstanding 2017 campaign for the Drillers. The club set the franchise record for most home runs as a team with 168 while also setting the Tulsa professional baseball record with 15 consecutive home wins.
Sunday night's game went down to the wire as the Drillers came within one swing of the bat of winning their first Texas League Championship since 1998.
After Tulsa closer
Facing Midland closer
The RockHounds took advantage of a miscue on the first play of the game to take an early advantage.
The Drillers threatened to tie the game in the home half of the first as they put men on first and second with one out against Midland starting pitcher
From there, both Naile and Tulsa starter
The Drillers appeared to have something cooking in the fourth as Beaty and Garlick led off the inning with back-to-back singles. But Naile got Gailen to ground into a double play and then struck out Mejia to maintain the RockHounds slim advantage.
Midland looked as if it would capitalize on the momentum from that as the visitors loaded the bases on a double, a hit batter and a walk. But Santana was able to retire the red-hot
Both managers turned the game over to their bullpen in the seventh inning after outstanding performances from both starting pitchers.
For Midland, reliever
In the top of the eighth,
The Drillers got a man on second in the bottom of the eighth against
That would lead to the ninth where Midland would hang on to end the 2017 season.
Santana was charged with the tough-luck loss as the right-hander allowed just the one unearned run over six innings of work. He struck out seven while only walking one Midland batter.
Naile earned the series-clinching victory for the second straight year for the RockHounds with his six shutout innings of work.
The Drillers will open the 2018 campaign on the road against the Frisco RoughRiders. The first game of the season will be on Thursday, April 5th at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Following a six-game road trip, the 2018 home opener will be on Thursday, April 12th at ONEOK Field.
Thank you to all the Drillers fans who came out and supported the club during the 2017 season. It was quite the ride. We'll see you next year!