Tulsa Comes Back Again to Win Fourth Straight
Tulsa, OK – For the third straight night, the Tulsa Drillers came from behind to defeat the Arkansas Travelers in another high-scoring game at ONEOK Field on Thursday night. The Drillers had a 7-1 advantage after the third inning, but the Travelers scored the next seven runs to take a
Tulsa, OK – For the third straight night, the Tulsa Drillers came from behind to defeat the Arkansas Travelers in another high-scoring game at ONEOK Field on Thursday night. The Drillers had a 7-1 advantage after the third inning, but the Travelers scored the next seven runs to take a one-run lead. Tulsa again rallied, scoring four runs in the sixth inning to retake the lead and then held on for an 11-8 victory.
The two teams have combined to score 51 runs in the first three games of their six-game series.
The win was the Drillers fourth consecutive and their sixth in the last seven games. Tulsa remained one game back of Springfield in the second-half division standings of the Texas League’s North Division. The Cardinals earned their second straight win on Thursday with a 10-3 victory over Northwest Arkansas.
The Drillers had to play from behind for the third straight night. In the first inning, Arkansas took a 1-0 lead when Felnin Celesten was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Charlie Pagliarini’s single to left.
Left-hander Zach Root made his third start on the mound with Tulsa, and gave up just the first-inning run while striking out six over the first three innings, allowing the Drillers to take the lead.
Tulsa began the third inning by earning two singles before an error allowed Jose Izarra to score and tie the game. Elijah Hainline followed with a double that put the Drillers in front, and Jake Gelof added a third run with a single. A bases loaded walk and a walk pitch produced two more runs before Sam Mongelli capped the seven-run inning with a two-run single that gave Tulsa a 7-1 lead.
The Travelers responded with five runs in the top of the fourth. Connor Charping accounted for the first run with a solo homer to right-center field. Root struck out the next two hitters but could not record the final out, as three singles gave the Travs their third run before a three-run homer from Celesten ended his night.
In the fifth, Arkansas scored two more runs on a bases-loaded walk and Blake Rambusch’s sacrifice fly to take an 8-7 lead.
Tulsa responded in the sixth when three walks loaded the bases, and Hainline delivered a two-run single to make the score 9-8. Logan Wagner drove in two more with a lined double into right field to give the Drillers 11 runs.
Three relievers combined to work the final 3 1/3 innings, keeping Arkansas scoreless in the process. Carson Hobbs was first as he recorded four outs, and Kelvin Ramirez followed and struck out three in two innings.
Lucas Wepf was the final pitcher to take the mound. The Toronto native pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of 2026.
GAME NOTES
*Hobbs was credited with the win to bring his record to 3-0.
*The come-from-behind victory was the Drillers 40th this season.
*Root officially completed 3 2/3 innings and was charged with six runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts. The University of Arkansas product has now recorded 21 punchouts in 12 1/3 innings with the Drillers.
*For the third straight night, Taylor Young recorded a multi-hit game and now has eight total in the last three games. He is 8-15 in the series.
*Hainline led the Drillers with three runs driven in. Wagner and Mongelli each also drove in a pair. Mongelli also shined in the field. Making just the third start of his professional career, he made two run-saving catches along the warning track in the seventh inning.
*The victory put the Drillers above a .500 winning percentage in August as Tulsa is now 6-5 for the month.
*The Drillers played as the Ranch Dippers for the second time this season to celebrate Tulsa’s favorite condiment. Tulsa will also wear Ranch Dippers jerseys and hats on Friday.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will continue their series with the Travelers, and look to win their fifth straight, on Friday night at ONEOK Field. Starting time for game four of the six-game series is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the pitching matchup is expected to be:
Arkansas- LHP Kade Anderson (10-1, 1.13 ERA)
Tulsa- LHP Luke Fox (1-0, 2.38 ERA)