Nelson's Big Night Not Enough

The Tulsa Drillers began a 6-game road trip Wednesday night with a 6-3 loss to the Frisco RoughRiders. The Drillers never led in the game and were limited to only five hits by a trio of Riders pitchers. The loss was Tulsa's seventh in its past eight games.

Designated hitter Justin Nelson was the lone bright spot for the Drillers' offense, collecting three of the team's five hits. He finished only a triple short of the cycle.

Nelson's homer, a solo shot in the top of the ninth inning, was his seventh of the year and tied him for the team lead.

Frisco took the lead in the game with a two-run second inning off Tulsa starter Alan Johnson. Catcher Tim Gradoville plated the first run with a single, and a sacrifice fly by Corey Ragsdale made it 2-0.

The Drillers got a run back in the top of the third inning as Nelson doubled and eventually scored on a fly ball off the bat of Neil Wilson. Wilson was not awarded a sacrifice fly when Gradoville was strangely charged with an error on a close play at the plate.

The Riders increased their lead to 5-1 with a three-run bottom of the third. Ben Harrison brought home the first run with a double, and Emerson Frostad followed with a two-run single.

After Frisco scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Drillers cut the margin to 6-2 in the fifth when Jeff Kindel walked and scored on a base hit by Wilson.

Nelson's ninth-inning homer closed the scoring.

The loss dropped Johnson's record to 1-6. The right-hander surrendered seven hits and six runs (5 ER) in seven innings of work.

Starter Thomas Diamond (1-0) gained his first win of the year for the Riders.

The two teams will play game two of their series Thursday night. Brandon Hynick (2-3, 6.00 ERA) will make the start for the Drillers against Michael Schlact (2-3, 4.60 ERA) of the Riders. Game time in Frisco will be 7:00PM.

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