Drillers and Stone Topped by Missions
San Antonio, TX – The Tulsa Drillers squared off against the San Antonio Missions on Tuesday night for the first time since winning the franchise’s fourth Texas League Championship in the Alamo City in September of the 2018 season. In the opening game of six-game series at Nelson Wolff Stadium,
San Antonio, TX – The Tulsa Drillers squared off against the San Antonio Missions on Tuesday night for the first time since winning the franchise’s fourth Texas League Championship in the Alamo City in September of the 2018 season. In the opening game of six-game series at Nelson Wolff Stadium, Tuesday’s opener did not go as well. The Drillers were limited to just to four hits and only one run in a 3-1 loss to San Antonio.
The Drillers lack of offense wasted another strong effort from starting pitcher Gavin Stone. Stone was charged with the loss, but he turned in another outstanding effort.
The Missions scored a second-inning run that was the first run that Stone had given up in three Double-A starts. With one out, Juan Fernandez singled off Stone and stole second base. Tirso Ornelas dropped a single into centerfield that plated Fernandez with the game-deciding run.
It was the only damage against Stone who worked six innings, giving up just the one run on four hits. He did not walk a batter and matched a season high for a Tulsa pitcher with nine strikeouts.
San Antonio starting pitcher Matt Waldron more than matched Stone’s effort. The right-hander blanked the Drillers through the first six innings, giving up just three hits and one walk.
Michael Baez and Alek Jacob each worked a scoreless relief inning before turning the ninth over to Angel Felipe.
The Missions got two big insurance runs off Nick Robertson in the eighth inning. Robertson walked the bases loaded before giving up a two-out single to Yorman Rodriguez that gave San Antonio a three-run lead.
The runs were big because the Drillers finally broke through against Felipe in the ninth. The San Antonio closer sandwiched a Ryan Ward single between walks to James Outman and Andy Pages with one out. Outman ended the shutout when he scored on Jacob Amaya’s fielder’s choice ground out.
With the potential game-tying runs on base, Felipe ended the threat when he fielded Carson Taylor’s grounder back to the mound that ended the game.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*The low-scoring game took just 2:05 to complete, the fastest nine-inning game of the season for the Drillers.
*The defeat snapped Tulsa’s three-game road, winning streak. With the loss, the Drillers road record dropped to 14-7.
*In his three Double-A starts, Stone has now worked 16.0 total innings and has allowed just one run. He has walked only two batters while striking out 24. His ERA with Tulsa is 0.56.
*Reliever Jose Hernandez worked a scoreless seventh inning for the Drillers. It was his second straight shutout appearance since being promoted from Great Lakes.
*San Antonio second baseman Domingo Leyba was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Jake Bruner after being called out on strikes to end the bottom of the sixth inning.
*With the loss, Tulsa dropped into a first-place tie with Wichita in the North Division standings of the Texas League. The Wind Surge’s game at Riverfront Stadium on Tuesday was suspended by weather in the top of the second inning. It will be resumed on Wednesday.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers and Missions will meet in game two of their six-game series on Wednesday night in San Antonio. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Nelson Wolff Stadium. The starting pitchers are slated to be:
Tulsa – RHP Clayton Beeter (0-2, 5.04 ERA)
San Antonio – RHP Thomas Eshelman (2-2, 4.78 ERA)