Valera Gives Drillers Walk-Off Win

LEONEL VALERA DELIVERED A WALK-OFF HOMER TO GIVE TULSA A 4-2 WIN ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. (Tim Campbell)

August 11, 2022

TULSA, OK – On Wednesday night, Leonel Valera was the hero for the Tulsa Drillers as broke a tie game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Tulsa a 4-2 walk-off win over the Midland RockHounds at ONEOK Field. For the second straight night,

TULSA, OK – On Wednesday night, Leonel Valera was the hero for the Tulsa Drillers as broke a tie game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Tulsa a 4-2 walk-off win over the Midland RockHounds at ONEOK Field.

For the second straight night, pitching commanded the game as both sides had two-run innings as the game was knotted up entering the final inning. With one out, Chris Betts singled to left field to bring Valera to the plate. On a 2-2 count, Valera smashed a drive into the RockHounds bullpen to give the Drillers the walk-off win.

BOXSCORE

Making only his fourth start this season for the Drillers, Alec Gamboa kept the RockHounds off the board through the first four innings. Gamboa gave up three hits and was helped by two 6-4-3 double plays.

ALEC GAMBOA PITCHED A CAREER HIGH 7.0 INNINGS IN HIS FOURTH START WITH THE DRILLERS THIS SEASON.Rich Crimi

Lefty Hogan Harris did the same from the opposing side. Harris kept the Drillers hitless through four innings, allowing just three walks.

Midland broke through to score two runs on Gamboa in the fifth inning. With one out, Mickey McDonald hit a solo home run to right field. Then, Zack Gelof gave the RockHounds their second run with his solo home run to put Midland ahead 2-0.

Harris departed the game with two outs in the fifth inning after reaching his pitch limit, as Tulsa only earned one hit off Harris. Bryce Conley was next on the mound, and the Drillers quickly earned four hits and scored their first two runs.

Andy Pages began the sixth inning with a double, and Justin Yurchak followed with a ground-rule double that brought Pages home for the Drillers first run. Yurchak came home on a single from Brandon Lewis to tie the game at 2-2.

After a scoreless seventh inning, Jordan Leasure took the mound for Tulsa in the eighth inning and struck out the side. With two outs in the top of the ninth and two runners on, Jose Hernandez entered and walked the first batter he faced. With the bases loaded and a full count, McDonald hit a liner that appeared like it was going to drop for a hit, but Kenneth Betancourt made a leaping catch to end the inning and set the Drillers up for the dramatic win.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*Gamboa produced one of his best outings of the season, setting a new career high with 7.0 innings pitched. His record is still perfect at 9-0 for the season but he did not receive a decision.

*The Drillers earned their third walk-off win of the season and their second walk-off homer this season.

*Pages has reached base in nine consecutive games and has a .324 batting average and a 1.276 OPS during the streak.

*Hernandez earned his third win of the season.

*After his outing on Wednesday night, Leasure has not allowed an earned run in his last ten appearances over 13 innings pitched.

*Before the game, the Drillers announced that outfielder Ismael Alcantara was added to the roster from Great Lakes.

UP NEXT: The Drillers and the RockHounds will continue their series on Thursday night at ONEOK Field. Starting time is set for 7:05 p.m. and the pitching matchup is scheduled to be: 

Midland – RHP J.T. Ginn (0-2, 6.10 ERA)

Tulsa – LHP Lael Lockhart (1-0, 3.86 ERA)