Curry and Long Help Drillers Win Homestand Opener

TULSA - The Tulsa Drillers opened a seven-game homestand Monday night at ONEOK Field, and a pair of pitchers stole the show. Starting pitcher Parker Curry opened the game with four shutout innings, and Nolan Long followed with two effective relief innings while contributing offensively with two hits at the plate. The result was a 5-1 victory over the Springfield Cardinals.
Chris Parmelee got the Drillers offense off to a quick start in the bottom of the first inning. With Zach McKinstry at first, Parmelee belted a pitch from Roel Ramirez high over the right field fence. The drive bounced off the concourse and out of the stadium for the former big leaguer's seventh homer of the season, giving the Drillers a 2-0 lead.
 
Tulsa added its third run in the fourth when Parmelee walked, advanced to third on a double by Keibert Ruiz and scored on a base hit by DJ Peters.
Long played a big role in the Drillers two-run fifth inning. In just the second professional at-bat for the pitcher, he led off with a lined double over the head of Cards centerfielder Randy Arozarena. After a wild pitch, Gavin Lux drove home Long with a base hit. Another wild pitch moved Lux to third where he scored to make it 5-0 on a sacrifice fly by Cody Thomas.
The Cardinals loaded the bases off reliever Jordan Sheffield in the top of the ninth inning without the benefit of a hit, but the Tulsa reliever escaped the jam to close out the victory.

 
WHAT YOU MISSED
He did not work the required five innings to register for the win, but Tulsa starting pitcher Parker Curry was outstanding. In just his fourth start this season, Curry allowed only one hit in four shutout innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Long got to the plate again in the sixth inning and made it a perfect night with a base hit to right field. For Long, the hits and the run were both the first of his professional career. The 6'10" right-hander also picked up the win to improve his record to a perfect 3-0.
Andre Scrubb replaced Long in the seventh inning and did not allow a base runner in his two innings.
Thomas was held without a hit in four official at-bats, ending his six-game hitting streak.
Northwest Arkansas defeated Arkansas on Monday, allowing the Drillers to move within 5.5 games of the first-place Travelers.
Before the game, the Drillers announced a pair of roster moves. Pitcher Michael Bowden received his release from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and infielder Sam McWilliams was optioned back to Rancho Cucamonga. Curry was activated from the Injured List to make Monday's start, and infielder Eric Peterson returned from Rancho Cucamonga.
 

UP NEXT:  Springfield at Tulsa, Tuesday, June 4, 7:05 PM at ONEOK Field. RHP Angel Rondon (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. TBA.