Walk-Off Walk Keeps Drillers in Playoff Race

The Tulsa Drillers entered Sunday afternoon's game against the Springfield Cardinals needing a win to avoid elimination in the Texas League North Division pennant race. In a back-and-fourth contest that was tied going into the bottom of the ninth, the Drillers loaded the bases and sent pitcher Logan Bawcom to the plate to pinch-hit. Bawcom drew a four-pitch walk to give the Drillers an exciting 7-6 victory at ONEOK Field.
Just minutes later, Northwest Arkansas defeated Arkansas 4-3 on a walk-off hit by former Driller Erick Mejia.
With the two results, the Drillers and Naturals are currently one game behind the Travelers with one game to play in the first-half.
Sunday's game between Tulsa and Springfield went back and forth. The Cardinals hit a solo home run to get the scoring started in the top of the second, but the Drillers came right back in the bottom half of the inning. Yusniel Díaz and Zach Reks singled to start the inning, and Keibert Ruiz knocked the third straight single of the inning to bring home the first Drillers run. With Reks on third, Drew Jackson grounded to the pitcher who threw home trying to get the force out. But he overthrew the catcher, allowing Reks to score and give the Drillers a 2-1 lead.
Mitchell White got the start on the mound for Tulsa, and got into trouble in the top of the third. He walked the pitcher to start the inning, then gave up a single that put runners at the corners. After a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, the Cardinals were on top 3-2. White worked two more innings without allowing another run, giving the Drillers a chance to get back in it.
Luke Raley and Connor Joe hit back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the fifth, then advanced to second and third after a wild pitch. Reks followed by delivering a clutch single that brought home two runs and put the Drillers back on top 4-3.
Springfield tied the game up in the top of the six, but Tulsa got the run right in the bottom half. Mike Ahmed was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then advanced to second after a pick-off attempt was thrown away. Drew Jackson then knocked a single to right that plated Ahmed and put the Drillers back on top 5-4.
The Cardinals evened the score again in the eighth, but the tie did not last long as the Drillers took the lead on their turn to bat in the inning. Jackson ripped a double to the left-center gap, and Cael Brockmeyer drew a walk. After Errol Robinson advanced the runners with a groundout, Raley hit a sacrifice fly to put the Driller back on top 6-5.
Layne Somsen was called upon to close the door in the ninth, but Springfield did not go down quietly. With two outs and a runner at second, Evan Mendoza doubled to once again tie things up at 6-6.
Ian McKinney came out of the Cardinals bullpen in the bottom of the ninth and immediately struck out D.J. Peters. Reks and Keibert Ruiz drew back-to-back walks and put the winning run in scoring position. After Will Smith struck out, Jackson worked a ten-pitch walk to load the bases.
With the pitcher's spot up and the Drillers out of position players, manager Scott Hennessey sent starting pitcher Logan Bawcom to bat. Bawcom looked at four-straight balls and drew the walk-off walk and gave the Drillers a 7-6 victory.
WHAT YOU MISSED
The Drillers current four-game winning streak is the longest of the season.
Sunday's evenly contested ballgame featured a combined ten ties and lead changes.
The Drillers will once again need some help from Northwest Arkansas on Monday night for a chance to win the first-half title. An Arkansas win or a Drillers loss would eliminate Tulsa.
In the bottom of the fifth with two strikes, Yusniel Diaz checked his swing and it was determined that he went around for strike three. Diaz was upset and threw his arms up and was ejected by first base umpire Cody Oakes. Drillers hitting coach Terrmel Sledge also earned an ejection when he came to his player's defense.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will take on the Cardinals on Monday night in the final game of the first-half. First pitch at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM, and the probable starting pitchers are:
SPR        Anthony Shew (3-2, 5.22 ERA)
TUL        Justin De Fratus (2-3, 5.40 ERA)