Tulsa Sets New Franchise Record in 4-3 Loss
FRISCO, TX – The Tulsa Drillers set a new franchise record for the most home runs hit in a season on Thursday night, but the record-breaking night came in a losing effort as Tulsa fell 4-3 to the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field. The Drillers took an early lead in
FRISCO, TX – The Tulsa Drillers set a new franchise record for the most home runs hit in a season on Thursday night, but the record-breaking night came in a losing effort as Tulsa fell 4-3 to the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field. The Drillers took an early lead in the third inning on a home run from Leonel Valera, but a four-run fifth inning for Frisco proved too much for Tulsa to overcome as the Drillers failed to mount a comeback.
Tulsa starting pitcher Landon Knack and Frisco starter Cody Bradford commanded the game for the first two innings as the dueling pitchers combined to strike out eight batters over the first two innings.
Tulsa earned the first base runner of the game in the third inning when Buddy Reed drew a walk with one out. Valera then made history when he gave the Drillers a 2-0 lead by hitting the 185th home run of the season for the Drillers.
The RoughRiders sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take the lead. A walk and a single began the inning, setting up Trevor Hauver who gave Frisco the lead with a three-run homer. Then, with a runner at second base, Jonathan Ornelas singled to center field to plate the fourth run and give the RoughRiders a 4-2 lead.
Knack’s night ended in that fifth after allowing five runners to reach base. Frisco’s four runs were all charged to Knack.
Tanner Dodson and Jake Cantleberry combined over the next 2.2 innings to keep the Drillers deficit at two runs.
In the eighth inning, Andy Pages brought Tulsa to within one run when he doubled to left field, scoring the speedy Valera from first base, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
The Drillers had one more opportunity to score in the ninth inning and earned an important base runner as Justin Yurchak singled with one out. Jeren Kendall was called upon to pinch run for Yurchak. However, Kody Hoese recorded the second out as he popped out to the pitcher on the first pitch of his at-bat. Abiatal Avelino then worked a 2-1 count. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Kendall attempted to steal second base but was thrown out by catcher David Garcia to end the game.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*Knack received his ninth loss of the season. The last time a Tulsa pitcher had nine losses was Eddie Butler in 2014 when the Drillers were a Colorado Rockies affiliate.
*The 185 home runs hit by the Drillers are the most homers hit in the 45-year history of the franchise, breaking the record set in 2018.
*The Drillers bullpen tuned in a scoreless outing for the second time in four games. Dodson, Cantleberry and Jose Adames combined to blank the Riders over the final 3.2 innings.
*Yurchak increased his on-base streak to 21 games with his double in the fourth inning. He is batting .342 with a .425 on-base percentage and an .859 OPS during the streak.
*Dodson has not allowed an earned run in eight outings (10.1 IP) since returning from the Dodgers Arizona Complex on August 9.
UP NEXT:
*The Drillers will face the RoughRiders again on Friday night at Riders Field in game four of their six-game series. Starting time is set for 6:35 p.m. and the starting pitchers are scheduled to be:
Tulsa- LHP Lael Lockhart (1-1, 4.97 ERA)
Frisco- RHP Mason Englert (1-0, 1.80 ERA)