Tulsa Clinches Second-Half Division Title

Corpus Christi, TX - With the magic number sitting at one, the Tulsa Drillers looked to clinch the second-half Texas League North Division title Sunday afternoon against the Corpus Christi Hooks. The Drillers did just that as two late home runs gave the Drillers a 4-0 victory. It is the third straight second-half division title for the Drillers.

The game was scoreless until the top of the seventh. Carlos Rincon led the inning off and broke the scoreless tie by crushing a solo home on the second pitch of the at bat. 

The Drillers struck again an inning later with another big homer. With two runners on base, Donovan Casey hit a three-run blast, his third homer of the year, to bring the Drillers lead to 4-0.

That was all the run support Drillers starting pitcher Markus Solbach needed. Solbach picked up his fifth win of the year after allowing only four hits over 7.2 innings, while surrendering no walks and striking out nine. 

WHAT YOU MISSED

Michael Boyle relieved Solbach and allowed no hits and did not walk a batter in his 1.1 innings. 

Omar Estevez hit his 24th double of the season. 

*Although the Drillers had already punched their ticket into the postseason, claiming the title means that Tulsa will host Game 5 of the TL North Division playoffs if the game is necessary. 

UP NEXT:  Tulsa at Corpus Christi, Monday, September 2, at 2:15 PM at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi. RHP Parker Curry (4-5, 3.58 ERA) versus RHP Forrest Whitley (2-2, 4.79 ERA).