Springfield, MO - After losing six of their last seven games to close out a disappointing end to the first half, the Tulsa Drillers looked to start the first game of the second half with a win. And the Drillers did just that as Edwin Ríos and the Drillers bullpen
Springfield, MO - After losing six of their last seven games to close out a disappointing end to the first half, the Tulsa Drillers looked to start the first game of the second half with a win. And the Drillers did just that as Edwin Ríos and the Drillers bullpen led the way to a 4-2 victory.
Tim Locastro led the game off the game by getting hit by the second pitch of the game. Locastro has become accustomed to getting on base in this way, as this was the 19th time this season he has been hit by a pitch which leads the Texas League. He would then go on to steal his 14th base of the season, and Edwin Rios would then drive him in with a double to give the Drillers a 1-0 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Tulsa catcher Paul Hoenecke erased a lead-off single by Jose Adolis Garcia by throwing him out on his attempt to steal second. With two outs in the inning, Springfield managed to rally for a run though by way of a Dickie Joe Thon single and an Andrew Knizner double to tie things up at 1-1.
The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the fourth by Bruce Caldwell leading off the inning with a solo home run that brought the Springfield lead to 2-1.
Drillers starter Walker Buehler would go on to finish the fourth inning, and that would mark the end of his night. He left the game giving up the two runs on five hits, while striking out five Cardinals.
The Drillers came roaring back in the top of the fifth with Locastro setting the table with a double, followed by Jose Fernandez walking on four pitches. Rios then stepped in and capped off his big night by hitting a three-run homer to give Tulsa a 4-2 lead.
The home run was Rios' 14th of the year which is good for second most in the Texas League, and his four RBIs on the night gave him a total of 55 on the year which leads the league.
The lead would be more than enough as the Tulsa bullpen was very good the rest of the way. Corey Copping came into the game in the fifth inning and sat down nine of the ten Springfield batters that he faced. A lone single was the only damage done in his three innings of work.
Yaisel Sierra came in the game in the bottom of the eighth. He walked the first batter that he faced, but was strong the rest of the way. His two innings of work ended with him striking out four of the eight Cardinals he faced and was good enough to earn his third save of the season.
After starting the second half 1-0 and winning the last two, the Drillers will look to notch the series win in Springfield on Wednesday morning. Scott Barlow (4-3, 2.17 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa and will face Zac Gallen (1-1, 2.04 ERA) of the Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM in Springfield.
