Drillers Rally to Return to the Win Column

WICHITA, KS – The Tulsa Drillers showed their resiliency twice on Thursday night in Wichita. Not only did they bounce back from seeing their season high seven-game winning streak end the previous night, they also had to dig out of an early three-run deficit.

The Drillers watched the Wind Surge jump out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning, but Diego Cartaya helped to start a comeback with yet another home run that led to Tulsa producing a three-run inning of its own. The end result was a come-from-behind 5-4 win for the Drillers at Riverfront Stadium.

BOX SCORE

The three-run first from the Wind Surge came against Tulsa starting pitcher Nick Nastrini and matched the most runs he had given up in a game this season. With two outs and a runner at first, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. doubled home the game’s first run. One pitch later, Alex Isola hit his eighth home run of the season to put the Drillers in an early 3-0 hole.

Tulsa got on the scoreboard in the top of the second when Eddys Leonard doubled and scored on a base hit by Kody Hoese.

The Drillers matched Wichita’s first inning with three runs of their own in the third. The first came from the red-hot Cartaya. The catcher homered for the fourth straight game to trim the Wind Surge’s lead to one run.

Yusniel Diaz followed with a double, and Jorbit Vivas drew a walk. Diaz scored on another double by Leonard, but Vivas was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on an infield grounder from Brandon Lewis. Hoese came through again with a two-out single that brought Leonard home to give the Drillers a 4-3 lead.

After the tough first inning, Nastrini settled in. He retired the side in order in both the second and third innings with five going down on strikeouts. Nastrini was charged with a fourth run when Keirsey Jr. and Prato both doubled in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4.

Tulsa responded again in the top of the fifth. Four singles from Diaz, Leonard, Lewis and Hoese generated a run that put the Drillers back in front, 5-4.

Wichita threatened to again tie the game in the seventh. Tulsa reliever Jake Pilarski walked Armani Smith to open the inning, but Cartaya threw out Smith attempting to steal second. It proved to be crucial as another walk and a base hit put runners at the corners.

Tanner Dodson came on for Pilarski and got the Drillers out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to keep the lead safe.

It would be the final threat of the night from the Wind Surge. Dodson set the side down in order in the eighth before turning the bottom of the ninth over to Ben Harris. The lefthander struck out the first two batters before getting a game-ending pop out from Will Holland to pick up his first Double-A save.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*Cartaya became the first Tulsa player to homer in four straight games since current Oakland A’s first baseman Ryan Noda did it from July 25-28 of the 2021 season. Cartaya has also scored a run in eight straight games.

*Tulsa finished with 12 hits in the game, led by three each from Hoese and Leonard. It was Hoese’s first three-hit game of the season and his first since July 23 of last season.

*Nastrini battled for five innings to gain the win and improve his record to 2-1. The right-hander was charged with four runs on six hits. He was able to stay in the game by not walking a batter while striking out seven.

*The Tulsa bullpen was outstanding, blanking the Wind Surge over the final four innings while allowing just two hits.

*The Drillers now lead the Coors Light Propeller Series between the two teams 6-3. The winner of the season series will be presented with the Propeller Trophy by Coors Light.

UP NEXT:

The Drillers will continue their six-game series in Wichita with game four Friday night against the Wind Surge. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium, and the starting pitchers are slated to be:

TUL – RHP Nick Frasso (1-1, 0.91 ERA)

WCH – RHP Travis Adams (1-4, 5.97 ERA)