DeLuca, Ward Help Drillers Snap Skid
SPRINGFIELD, MO- The Tulsa Drillers snapped their three-game losing streak Friday night by earning their first win in a series with the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field. The Drillers earned the win with help from Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Ward, who accounted for five of the six runs scored in
SPRINGFIELD, MO- The Tulsa Drillers snapped their three-game losing streak Friday night by earning their first win in a series with the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field. The Drillers earned the win with help from Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Ward, who accounted for five of the six runs scored in the 6-4 victory.
The Drillers offense began the game strong by scoring in each of the first three innings. DeLuca continued to set the tone from the leadoff spot as he started the game with a triple. DeLuca scored one batter later when Ward singled to right. Andy Pages and Justin Yurchak followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases, and Carson Taylor singled to center to plate Ward and Pages to give Tulsa a 3-0 lead.
The pair of DeLuca and Ward combined to score two more runs in the second inning. With two outs, DeLuca reached first base with a single, and Ward followed with his 21st home run of the season to put the Drillers ahead 5-0.
Tulsa reached its biggest lead in the third inning when Abiatal Avelino hit a sacrifice fly to bring Devin Mann home for a 6-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Clayton Beeter allowed just one hit before the third inning when Springfield struck for two runs. Following a double, a walk and a groundout, the Cardinals had runners at second and third. Matt Koperniak plated both runners with a single to bring the score to 6-2.
Lefty Alec Gamboa took the mound in the fourth inning and kept the game in check for the next three innings by giving up only one hit while striking out four Springfield hitters. The Cardinals narrowed the Drillers lead in the seventh inning when consecutive doubles brought one run to the plate. Nick Dunn then singled to put runners at first and third. Tulsa traded a run for two outs turning a 5-4-3 double play that allowed Mike Antico to score as the Drillers lead was trimmed to 6-4.
Manager Scott Hennessey turned to Jose Hernandez and he recorded the final out in the seventh and kept the Cardinals scoreless in the eighth.
Guillermo Zuniga received the ball in the ninth inning to close the game, setting down the side in order, recording his ninth save of the season.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*With his 21st home run this season, Ryan Ward now has hit the most homers among active players in the Texas League. Moises Gomez has hit 23 and Matt Wallner has 21 blasts, but both players have been transferred to Triple-A.
*Zuniga has recorded nine saves in nine opportunities this season.
*Gamboa picked up his eighth win of the year. He is now tied with Arkansas’ Taylor Dollard for the most wins in Double-A.
*The Drillers have hit a home run in the last seven games, with 14 total during that span.
*Yurchak increased his hitting streak to ten games, going 1-2 for the night. He has also reached base in 13 straight games.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers will face the Cardinals again on Saturday night in the fifth game of their six-game series. Starting time at Hammons Field is set for 6:35 p.m. Bobby Miller who was scheduled to start, will be in Los Angeles for the All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium. The starting pitchers are scheduled to be:
Tulsa – TBA
Springfield – RHP Edgar Escobar (5-5, 6.92 ERA)