Late Rally Helps Drillers Steal Opener

Tulsa rallied for five runs in the eighth to beat San Antonio 9-6 Thursday night before 4,889 at Wolff Stadium.
On the bump for the Missions to start Tuesday's opener was a familiar face. Right-hander Colin Rea made his Wolff return in a rehab assignment for San Diego. Rea, who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, was one of the Texas League's top hurlers in 2015, going 3-2 with a 1.08 ERA in 12 starts for the Missions.
In his first rehab start Tuesday, Rea allowed four runs on six hits and one walk, while striking out a pair in three and a third innings. The Drillers plated two of those in the first with a double by left fielder Zach Reks.
San Antonio immediately responded against Mitchell White. After White plunked leadoff man FernandoTatis Jr. and allowed a Josh Naylor single, Ty France gave the Missions a 3-2 lead when he followed with a homer to right field. Tatis Jr. made the score 4-2 in the second when he added a solo homer, his ninth of the season and his sixth in May.
Tulsa would soon put together a rally of its own, getting a Reks single in the third before tying the game at four with an Errol Robinson homer off Rea to lead off the fourth.
France put the Missions back in front in the fifth when he greeted reliever Chad Girodo with a single to left.
A brief rain delay stopped play in the top of the seventh, but once play resumed. San Antonio quickly went back on the attack, taking a 6-4 lead in the bottom half when Naylor followed a Tatis Jr. double with a single to left.
Robinson helped Tulsa turn the tide in the eighth, homering again, this time off right-hander Lake Bachar, to close the Drillers deficit to just one. Following the dinger, the Drillers promptly loaded the bases without recording an out. The Drillers took full advantage of the situation, plating four more runs off Bachar (0-2) and righty Jason Jester to take the lead for good.
Dylan Baker (2^nd save) came in for the final two innings to complete the Drillers comeback.
Tatis Jr. finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and four runs scored.
San Antonio (28-17) resumes its three-game set with Tulsa (23-21) Wednesday on Military Appreciation Night presented by Circle K. Wednesday will also be a Bark in the Park night courtesy of MissionVet Specialty & Emergency. First pitch is slated for 7:05 PM. Righty Cal Quantrill (2-3, 5.32) gets the ball for the Missions in Wednesday's middle game, while the Drillers counter with southpaw Devin Smeltzer (1-3, 7.02).