Drillers Fall Late in Garko's Final Game as Manager

Springdale, AR - In Tulsa Drillers manager Ryan Garko's final game as the manager of the team, the Drillers looked to secure a series victory against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday afternoon. But although they had a three-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth, they would not be able to hold on as they lost 8-7. All four games against Northwest Arkansas were decided by one run, as the clubs split the four-game series.
Prior to the game, Garko informed the Drillers that he would be stepping down as the team's manager to accept an offer to be the head baseball coach at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. It is expected that coach Scott Hennessey will take over as the interim manager. Garko leaves the club with a career record of 118-121.
In Garko's final game the score bounced back and forth early. Northwest Arkansas quickly put a run on the board in the bottom half of the inning. Tulsa starter Yadier Álvarez, who was making his Double-A debut, hit the first batter he faced, and then promptly gave up an RBI double to Paulo Orlando to give the Naturals a 1-0 lead.
The lead would not last long for the Naturals as the Drillers would come right back in the bottom of the second.
With an out in the inning, Erick Mejia drew a walk. With Darien Tubbs batting, Mejia stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tubbs then drew a walk to put runners at the corners. With two outs in the inning and Tim Locastro batting, the Drillers pulled off an exciting double steal. Tubbs stole second and Mejia provided his second steal of the inning by swiping home on the throw to second as he tied the game. Locastro then hit an RBI single to give the Drillers a 2-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Alvarez gave up a single and a walk. Donald Dewees followed that up with an RBI single to plate a run and tie the game at 2-2.
Northwest Arkansas went on to add a run in the bottom of the fourth due to some sloppy play. The first batter, Allan de San Miguel, reached on a throwing error by the pitcher Alvarez, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Paulo Orlando then preceded to knock him in with a single, giving the Naturals a 3-2 lead.
The four innings would be all in Alvarez's debut with the Drillers. He ended his day by giving up the three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out six.
The Drillers quickly took the lead right back in the top of the fifth. Brant Whiting led the inning off with a walk, and then Locastro was hit by a pitch. With Matt Beaty batting, Whiting and Locastro both advanced on a passed ball. Beaty then knocked in the tying run with a single.
With runners at the corners, Henry Ramos knocked in Locastro with an RBI groundout to give the lead back to the Drillers. Peter O'Brien followed that up by knocking Beaty in with a double to give the Drillers a 5-3 advantage.
But the Naturals kept the pressure on the Drillers by adding a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Nicky Lopez led the inning off with a double off Parker Curry, who also made his Drillers debut. Lopez would advance to third on a sacrifice bunt. Samir Dueñez cut the Northwest Arkansas deficit to 5-4 by plating Lopez with a sacrifice fly.
Curry would go on to pitch two innings while allowing the run on two hits while striking out two.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, the Drillers would rally to add a couple of insurance runs. Whiting and Locastro both singled, and then Beaty knocked them both in with a double to give Tulsa a 7-4 lead.
Drillers closer Corey Copping came in with the three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, looking to notch his 11^th save of the season. But after getting two quick outs, things unraveled for Copping. He hit a batter and allowed two walks to load the bases full of Naturals.
Pinch hitter Nick Dini kept the game alive for Northwest Arkansas as he knocked in a pair of runs with a single. Lopez then tied things up at 7-7 with an RBI single of his own.
In his final move as the Drillers manager, Garko then brought in outfielder Blake Gailen to replace Copping due to having a taxed bullpen. But on Gailen's first pitch of the game, Anderson Miller sealed the comeback for the Naturals with a game-winning double to give Northwest Arkansas the walk-off 8-7 win.
The Drillers will now head to Springfield on Monday night to face the first place Cardinals in what will be a big series for Tulsa. Drillers newcomer Dennis Santana (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will face Chris Ellis (2-4, 4.19 ERA) of the Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.