Tulsa Holds Off Corpus Christi 9-8

TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Drillers offense started quickly in their 9-8 victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks Sunday afternoon at ONEOK Field. Gavin Lux and DJ Peters both launched homers, and the Drillers were patient at the plate which led to scoring opportunities and a couple big innings.
Tulsa scored nine runs in the first three innings, but the Hooks would not go away and made things interesting in the top of the ninth. With Tulsa leading by four runs, Layne Somsen came out of the Drillers bullpen with the task of sealing the game. But an error, a double and two singles pulled the Hooks to within one run. With the tying run on base, Somsen got Joshua Rojas to ground out to end the game.
The win brings the Drillers record to 16-12 on the season and within 2.5 games of the first place Arkansas Travelers.
GAME REPORT:
The Drillers jumped out to a big lead in the bottom of the first. Drillers' leadoff hitter Lux quickly put Tulsa on the board with a line-drive homer into the bullpen. After a single and four consecutive walks, the Drillers lead was 3-0. Jared Walker capped the inning with a two-run single that extended the margin to 5-0.
Corpus Christi evened things up in the second and third innings. In the top of the second, Lorenzo Quintana plated two runs with a single, and in the third, three consecutive hits by Rojas, Chas McCormick and Quintana tied things at 5-5.
Tulsa erupted for another big inning in the bottom of the third. Peters crushed his fifth homer of the year on the first pitch of the inning. With the bases loaded later in the third, Josh Thole grounded to second in what looked to be a routine double play ball. After fielding the grounder, Hooks second baseman Osvaldo Duarte's throw hit Zach McKinstry who was running to second. The ball caromed into the outfield which allowed two runs to score on the error. Lux extended the lead to 9-5 with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Drillers bullpen shut down the Hooks bats the rest of the way. Shea Spitzbarth allowed only one hit and struck out a pair while picking up the win in his 2.1 innings, and Michael Boyle threw three scoreless innings.
WHAT YOU MISSED:
Corpus Christi's starting pitcher was Carson LaRue, who is a native of Dewey, Oklahoma and graduated from Dewey High School. He played a year of college baseball at Oklahoma State before transferring to Cowley County College in Kansas. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 14^th round of the 2016 MLB draft. LaRue was charged with five runs in only 1/3 of an inning.
Drillers starter Yordy Cabrera had a rough go in his first home start of the season. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings.
*The Drillers played the game as Los Petroleros and the Hooks as Los Raspas. Both teams take part in Minor League Baseball's Copa de la Diversion which aims to celebrate the local Hispanic communities. Los Petroleros will return to ONEOK Field on August 1-2.
UP NEXT: Corpus Christi at Tulsa, Monday, May 6, 12:05 PM at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, OK. Hooks starter TBA vs. Mitchell White (1-0, 2.45 ERA).