Valera and Miller Star in Shutout Win
TULSA, OK – The month of August has been very good for Tulsa’s Leonel Valera, but it got even better Sunday afternoon. The shortstop fell a single shy of hitting for the cycle, getting a homer, a triple and a double while driving in three runs to lead the Drillers
TULSA, OK – The month of August has been very good for Tulsa’s Leonel Valera, but it got even better Sunday afternoon. The shortstop fell a single shy of hitting for the cycle, getting a homer, a triple and a double while driving in three runs to lead the Drillers to a 7-0 win over the Midland RockHounds at ONEOK Field.
Valera’s contributions were more than enough support for Bobby Miller. The number one ranked pitching prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system delivered his best outing of the season with 7.1 shutout innings.
Valera’s contributions started early. Batting in the leadoff spot, he opened the bottom of the first inning by hitting the third pitch from Midland starter Colin Peluse into the Budweiser Terrace to give the Drillers a quick 1-0 lead.
He struck again in the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Chris Betts drew a walk and Kenneth Betancourt singled to bring Valera to the plate. He delivered with a liner that rolled to the fence in right-center field. The triple plated both runners and increased the Drillers lead to 3-0.
Miller never gave Midland a chance to get back in the game. He allowed just four hits, all singles, while striking out nine in the longest outing of his professional career. He also set a career high with 103 pitches, 71 of which were thrown for strikes.
Miller departed with one out in the seventh after issuing one of his walks and giving up an infield hit. With runners at first and second, Jordan Leasure took over and got a fly out and strikeout to keep the shutout in place.
The Drillers added some insurance with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Andy Pages produced the first run when led off with a long home run that cleared the Budweiser Terrace and bounced over the perimeter fencing and out of the stadium.
The other runs came on RBI singles from Ryan January and Betancourt and on a run-scoring ground out from Valera.
With a chance to complete the cycle with a single, Valera hit a soft grounder near the bag at second that turned into a fielder’s choice put out.
Leasure set the RockHounds down in order in the ninth to cap off the shutout and collect his third save.
In 12 games this month, Valera is hitting .348 with 4 home runs and 15 runs batted in. With 5 doubles and 2 triples, 11 of his 16 hits in the month have gone for extra bases.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*The win gave the Drillers a split of the six-game series, while also giving them a win in the season series between the two teams. Tulsa won 7 of the 12 meetings with the RockHounds this year.
*It was the seventh shutout of the season for Tulsa pitchers, and five of them have come at ONEOK Field.
*Miller has now struck out 33 batters in his last 20.2 innings while issuing just 3 walks.
*Leasure ran his scoreless streak to 11 straight games, a stretch of 14.2 innings. He has allowed just one earned run since May 29, a stretch of 24 games and 27.0 innings pitched. In that stretch, Leasure has a 0.33 ERA.
*Tulsa wore its Noodlers jerseys for the game and improved their all-time record when playing as the Noodlers to 5-3.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers will be off on Monday before beginning a six-game series at first-place Wichita on Tuesday. Starting time for the series opener with the Wind Surge will be 7:05 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium. The pitching matchup is scheduled to be:
Tulsa – TBA
Wichita - TBA