Drillers Split Series with Sunday Loss
SPRINGDALE, AR – The Tulsa Drillers fell in the series finale Sunday afternoon against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals by a score of 8-1 at Arvest Ballpark. The Drillers only run in the contest came from Ryan Ward in the third inning. With the game at 1-1 heading into the bottom
SPRINGDALE, AR – The Tulsa Drillers fell in the series finale Sunday afternoon against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals by a score of 8-1 at Arvest Ballpark.
The Drillers only run in the contest came from Ryan Ward in the third inning. With the game at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Naturals took the lead with seven runs.
Neither team scored for the remainder of the game.
Northwest Arkansas’ starting pitcher, Andrew Hoffman, held the Drillers to three hits and a run in six innings pitched for his first win of the season. The Naturals bullpen allowed only two hits and zero runs in the final three innings of play.
John Rooney made his 17th appearance and 13th start of the season for the Drillers. He was relieved in the fourth inning after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits, a walk, a wild pitch, a balk, and three strikeouts.
The Naturals scored first in the contest with an RBI single in the second inning.
The Drillers answered in the third inning by utilizing a hit-and-run to perfection as Leonel Valera scored their only run with on an RBi double by Ward with two outs.
The Naturals sent 12 batters to the plate and took command of the game in the fourth inning with their seven runs. Adolfo Ramirez entered a third of the way into the inning after replacing Rooney, who gave up six earned runs.
The Drillers earned their first hits since the fifth with a double from Valera and a single from Ward in the eighth inning, but the two runners were stranded on the corners after the next three batters struck out.
The Naturals struck out six of the last seven Drillers batters to secure the 8-1 victory.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*Ward finished 2-4 from the plate with an RBI.
*Valera was 1-3 with a run and a walk.
*Rooney suffered his fourth loss, making his record 4-4.
*The Naturals outhit the Drillers 11-to-5.
*Tulsa was one for ten with runners in scoring position, while Northwest Arkansas was 4-11.
*Catcher Wladimir Chalo and pitcher Ramirez made their debut Double-A debuts after being assigned to the Drillers this week. Ramirez finished with four walks, three strikeouts, and two hits in 3.2 scoreless innings.
*Starting outfielder Jonny DeLuca was added to the injury list before the game, joining Jaren Kendall and Carson Taylor.
UP NEXT: The Drillers return home to ONEOK Field on Tuesday, August 9 to face off with the Midland Rockhounds. The first pitch for Tuesday’s opener is set for 7:05 p.m. and the pitching matchup has yet to be determined..