Drillers Erase 4-Run Deficit to Defeat Arkansas

TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Drillers fell into a quick 4-0 deficit to the Arkansas Travelers on Friday night at ONEOK Field. But the Drillers offense came alive and scored seven unanswered runs in a 7-5 victory. The scoring was propelled by home runs from Omar Estevez, Cristian Santana and Logan Landon.
Adam McCreery came into the game out of the Drillers bullpen and completely shut down the Arkansas bats. He retired all nine batters he faced and struck out four while picking up his first win of the season.
The victory was just third for the Drillers in nine meetings with the Travelers this season.
GAME REPORT:
Arkansas jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Aaron Knapp hit a leadoff home run onto the berm in right center.
After Arkansas loaded the bases with three singles in the second, Knapp struck again with a two-RBI single to extend the lead. An inning later, Jordan Cowan plated a run with an RBI single that upped the Travs lead to 4-0.
Tulsa came storming back over the next three innings. After Cody Thomas drew a walk in the third, Logan Landon extended his hitting streak to ten games with a triple that brought home the Drillers first run. Gavin Lux plated Landon with an RBI groundout, and Omar Estevez capped the inning with a deep home run to left.
An inning later, Cristian Santana launched a no-doubt home run to right onto Elgin Avenue, his first of the season. In the bottom of the fifth, Landon stayed hot and joined the home run party with a two-run shot into the Busch Terrace in left to give Tulsa a 6-4 lead.
In the seventh, the Drillers rallied with two outs to add an insurance run. Estevez doubled in front of a Keibert Ruiz RBI single, extending the lead to 7-4.
Donnie Walton added a solo home run in the ninth to cut the Travs deficit to 7-5.
HOT AT THE PLATE:
The hits keep coming for Landon. The outfielder entered the game with an already impressive .419 batting average and raised it to .441 with his triple and home run.
Estevez notched three more hits and upped his RBI total to 11, which is good for second most on the team behind Thomas' 13.
OTHER NOTES:
Mitchell White lasted only 1.2 innings in his third start of the season. He gave up five hits and three earned runs before hitting his early-season pitch limit.
Michael Boyle and Louis Head pitched three solid innings in relief of McCreery. They struck out a combined five batters.
*The win moves the Drillers record to a game above .500 at 8-7. They are now three games behind the division leading Travelers.
UP NEXT: Arkansas at Tulsa, Saturday, April 13, 7:05 PM at ONEOK Field. RHP Justin Dunn (1-0, 1.88 ERA) vs. Justin De Fratus (0-1, 6.55 ERA