Drillers Rally Past Naturals, Take Over First
SPRINGDALE, AR - One night after suffering a walk-off loss at Northwest Arkansas, the Tulsa Drillers bounced back with a win Saturday at Arvest Ballpark. The Drillers did not have a base runner through the first four innings and were held without a run for the first five, but they
<st1:city w:st="on">SPRINGDALE, <st1:state w:st="on">AR - One night after suffering a walk-off loss at <st1:place w:st="on">Northwest Arkansas, the Tulsa Drillers bounced back with a win Saturday at Arvest Ballpark. The Drillers did not have a base runner through the first four innings and were held without a run for the first five, but they overturned a one-run deficit by scoring four times in the top of the sixth inning. They added two more runs run in the seventh and eventually recorded a 6-2 win over the Naturals.
With the victory, the Drillers took over sole possession of first place in the North Division standings of the Texas League. <st1:state w:st="on">Arkansas was beaten by <st1:city w:st="on">Springfield, leaving <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa one game in front of the Travelers with just 15 games remaining in the regular season. It marks the first time this season that the Drillers have occupied first place by themselves.
First place did not seem a likely possibility through the first half of Saturday's matchup.
The Drillers bats finally came to life with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the sixth.
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa added to its lead in the seventh.
Starting pitcher
The Naturals added an unearned run off reliever
WHAT YOU MISSED
Solbach was charged with just one run in his six-inning stint, lowering his ERA to 1.03.
Moseley retired all six batters he faced and recorded four strikeouts.
Estevez finished with two hits and three runs batted in. Batting in the leadoff spot, Avans had three hits and two runs scored.
<st1:city w:st="on">Tulsa totaled 11 hits in the win while <st1:place w:st="on">Northwest Arkansas was limited to just 5.
*The Drillers never occupied first place during the first half of the season, but they had been in a tie for the top spot on eight occasions during the second half before finally taking sole possession of first with Saturday's victory in the 124th game of the year.
UP NEXT: <st1:city w:st="on">Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas, Sunday, August 18, at 2:05 PM at Arvest Ballpark in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Springdale, <st1:state w:st="on">AR. RHP Parker Curry (4-5, 3.08 ERA) versus RHP Jackson Kowar (2-6, 3.28 ERA).