Drillers Bullpen Plays Big Role in Extra Innings Win
In what was unquestionably their craziest game of the year, the Tulsa Drillers outlasted the Arkansas Travelers to claim a 6-2 victory in 13 innings Thursday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was the second straight win for the Drillers over the first-place Travs. Drillers pitchers held Arkansas without a hit
In what was unquestionably their craziest game of the year, the Tulsa Drillers outlasted the Arkansas Travelers to claim a 6-2 victory in 13 innings Thursday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was the second straight win for the Drillers over the first-place Travs.
Drillers pitchers held Arkansas without a hit over the game’s final eight innings, but the win did not come easily.
The outcome was finally decided when the Travelers had to use a position player to pitch the 13th inning. Tulsa took advantage and scored four times to finally reach an outcome.
In the third with two runners on, the Travelers scored their first run when Drillers’ pitcher, Gerardo Carrillo, missed a catch covering first base on a double play attempt.
The Drillers persevered to score their first run in the seventh. Hunter Feduccia reached first on a walk followed by a single from Michael Busch putting two runners on base. Donovan Casey then singled to left bringing in Feduccia tying the game 1-1.
The game went into extra innings and it took until the 11th for a run to score. Hunter Feduccia brought in the go-ahead run on a double that scored the placed runner Jacob Amaya from third. Arkansas extended the game in the bottom half. With the placed runner at second, a groundout moved the runner to third. Two batters later, with two outs, Tulsa reliever Guillermo Zuniga unhinged a wild pitch allowing the runner to score bringing the score to 2-2 to continue the game.
The Travelers appeared to run out of pitching as outfielder Connor Lien came in to pitch the 13th. The Drillers took advantage scoring four runs on a double from Devin Mann and a home run from Michael Busch.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The Drillers bullpen did not allow a hit for the final eight innings.
Justin Bruihl threw 3.2 perfect innings in relief.
The game went 4 hours and 37 minutes, easily being the longest Drillers game so far this season.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will continue their 12-game road trip on Friday with their fourth game in Little Rock.
Tulsa at Arkansas, Friday, May 28, 7:10 PM at Dickey-Stephens Park. Tulsa RHP Andre Jackson (0-0, 3.49 ERA) versus Arkansas RHP Penn Murfee (1-0, 4.97 ERA).