Drillers Take Sole Possession of First Place with Win over Amarillo

TULSA - The Tulsa Drillers opened their final homestand of the 2019 regular season Tuesday night with a come-from-behind win over Amarillo. In a battle of first-place teams, the Drillers twice overcame deficits, the last time with three sixth-inning runs, and defeated the Sod Poodles 4-3 at ONEOK Field.
The win, combined with an Arkansas loss to Corpus Christi, allowed the Drillers to move back into sole possession of first place in the Texas League's North Division standings, one game in front of the Travelers. There are just 13 games remaining in the regular season.
Tuesday's opener with the Sod Poodles was scoreless through the first four innings. Tulsa starting pitcher JoJo Gray allowed just one hit through those four innings, while Amarillo starter Luis Patiño surrendered just two hits through the first three before departing with what appeared to be a blister issue.
Gray ran into problems in the top of the fifth when Hudson Potts led off with a base hit and later scored on another single from A.J. Kennedy.
The Drillers responded to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the fifth against Amarillo reliever Evan Miller. Newcomer Jeter Downs singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pickoff throw from Miller and scored on a base hit from Errol Robinson.
The offense continued in the sixth inning. Yordy Cabrera retired the first batter of the sixth before Edward Olivares reached safely on a throwing error by Downs. After Oliveras stole second base, Owen Miller was safe on a ground ball to first baseman Chris Parmelee when Cabrera failed to cover first base. Potts followed with a run-scoring single, and Kyle Overstreet delivered a sacrifice fly that put Amarillo in front 3-1.
Again, the Drillers offered an immediate response. Omar Estevez led off the bottom of the sixth with a lined double off the top of the right field fence. Donovan Casey scored Estevez with a base hit, then scored himself when Connor Wong grounded a two-out double just inside the third base bag and into the left field corner. Downs came through with a lined base hit to left field that scored Wong and put Tulsa in front 4-3.
It proved to be the game winner as the Drillers bullpen kept Amarillo off the scoreboard over the final three innings. Shea Spitzbarth closed it out with a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save. In the ninth, Buddy Reed singled with two outs to put the potential tying run on base. The game ended when Tulsa catcher Wong threw out Reed attempting to steal second as shortstop Errol Robinson grabbed the throw on a short hop and applied the tag.
  

WHAT YOU MISSED
It was an impressive offensive debut for Downs who is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the Los Angeles Dodger minor league system by MLB.com. Downs joined the Drillers Tuesday afternoon, replacing Angelo Mora who was released by the Dodgers. The shortstop finished with two hits in his first-ever Double-A game while scoring one run and driving home another. Defensively, he was charged with one error and double-pumped before throwing late to first on another infield grounder.
Estevez had two doubles in a game for the third time this season and the second time in the past three games.
Wong threw out three attempted base stealers in the game. Since joining the Drillers in mid-July, he has thrown out 12 of 26 base stealers (46.2%).
Gray had another solid start for the Drillers, allowing just one run in 4.1 innings while slightly lowering his Double-A ERA to 2.14. The right-hander has allowed two runs or less in each of his last six outings.
Lefthander Logan Salow followed Gray to the mound in the top of the fifth and retired both batters he faced. 

Ryan Moseley kept Amarillo off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth innings. It is his sixth straight appearance without allowing an earned run. In 15 home games at ONEOK Field this season, Moseley is 3-0 with three holds and one save. He has a 1.65 ERA in those 15 appearances.
*The game featured 26 total strikeouts, including 12 by Tulsa pitchers.
UP NEXT:  Amarillo at Tulsa, Wednesday, August 21, 7:05 PM at ONEOK Field. RHP Jess Scholtens (5-6, 5.42 ERA) versus RHP Edwin Uceta (6-2, 3.32 ERA).