Tulsa Pulls Away Late to Take Opener

Tulsa broke open a close game in the ninth with a three-run rally en route to a 5-1 win over San Antonio Friday night before 5,167 at Wolff Stadium.
Friday night's series opener featured a terrific pitching matchup between San Antonio's Joey Lucchesi and Tulsa's Scott Barlow.
Both hurlers put up zeroes through the first two innings, but in the third, Tulsa plated the game's first run when a rundown resulted in a double steal. Lucchesi (3-3) had Errol Robinson picked off at first. However, Robinson stayed in a rundown long enough, allowing Drew Jackson to break from third and beat first baseman Josh Naylor's throw home.
The Drillers upped their lead to two in the fourth when Johan Mieses took Lucchesi's 3-1 pitch over the wall in left center. It was Mieses' 12^th dinger of the season.
San Antonio did not have a hit off Barlow (6-3) until the fifth, but its first was a big one as Nick Schulz cut his club's deficit to 2-1 with a solo blast onto the berm in left.
A tying run nearly came an inning later against reliever Michael Johnson. With Javier Guerra on first and two outs, Webster Rivas singled to center. Guerra, running on the pitch, hustled to third. But little did Guerra know that Mieses overran the ball in center and his slide into third ended up costing him a run. By the time Guerra got up from third to head home, Mieses was able to gather the ball, hit cutoff man Drew Jackson, who threw out Guerra at the plate to keep the game tied.
Tulsa put the game on ice in the ninth by erupting for three runs on four hits off right-hander Aroni Nina.
San Antonio (28-19, 68-49) continues its three-game series with Tulsa (30-18, 63-55) Saturday at 7:05 PM. Enyel De Los Santos (8-4, 4.02) will get the ball for the Missions, while the Drillers counter with fellow righty Yadier Álvarez (0-0, 2.84). Following the game there will be a special fireworks show courtesy of Bud Light.