Tulsa Clinches First Half Over Travs

TULSA - For seven innings Kramer Sneed shutdown the Tulsa Drillers bats, but once he left the game they jumped out on a two-run double hit by Cristhian Adames for a 2-1 victory over the Arkansas Travelers. Tulsa's victory secured the Texas League's North Division pennant for the first half of the season.

The Drillers' record improved to 36-28, which is 5.5 games better than the Travs at 31-34 with five games remaining on the schedule until the second half begins next Tuesday.

Sneed was outstanding in his third appearance against the Drillers lasting seven innings without a runner reaching third base. The left hander struck out six batters against just one walk and three base hits. Sneed threw 87 pitches, including 57 strikes, and left the game with a 1-0 lead.

The Travs scored their run in the first inning against left hander Carlos Hernandez. Maikol Gonzalez hit a leadoff double to the right field wall and scored when Brian Hernandez punched a two-out single to center.

Hernandez controlled the Travs bats the rest of his five innings, retiring 11 in a row after Hernandez' base hit. The last chance the Travs had to score came after consecutive one-out singles in the fifth inning by Kaleb Cowart and Erik Komatsu. Hernandez got Eric Stamets to bounce into a double play.

Sneed exited after a perfect seventh inning and handed the ball to Danny Reynolds, who came in with a string of seven scoreless innings. Jose Gonzalez began the inning with a single on an 0-2 count. Gonzalez advanced on second on a sacrifice bunt by Delta Cleary, Jr then took third when Taylor Featherston singled. Adames followed with a drive to the left-field gap knocking home both runners for a 2-1 Drillers lead.

Cole White (2) preserved the win by saving the game with a perfect ninth inning. Ken Roberts (3-2) pitched three scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit with three strikeouts for the win. Reynolds (0-1) was hit with the loss allowing two runs in 0.2 innings.

Time of game was 2:17 and the paid attendance was 5,542.

The second game of the series at ONEOK Field is set for Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. Drew Rucinski (4-4, 2.73) will make the start for the Travs, while Tulsa counters with former Traveler Mike Piazza who makes his debut in the Rockies organization.