Drillers Avoid Perfect Game but fall 14-0 in Midland
MIDLAND, TX – Not much went right for the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday night in Midland, Texas. Even the weather was difficult, with the wind chill temperature dipping unseasonably into the 50’s. On the field, the Drillers were held without a base runner for eight-plus innings, and the Midland RockHounds
MIDLAND, TX – Not much went right for the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday night in Midland, Texas. Even the weather was difficult, with the wind chill temperature dipping unseasonably into the 50’s. On the field, the Drillers were held without a base runner for eight-plus innings, and the Midland RockHounds posted a 14-0 win at Momentum Bank Ballpark.
The RockHounds took control of the game early, scoring five first-inning runs.
The Drillers were shut out, but they avoided being the victims of a perfect game. Tulsa did not have a base runner through the first eight innings, and Lolo Sanchez struck out to open the ninth to make it 25 straight hitters retired.
Jose Ramos, batting as a pinch-hitter, ended the RockHounds’ bid for perfection when he lined a clean single into right field off Midland closer Grant Holman. Bubba Alleyne followed with an infield single, but Holman recovered to get a strikeout and a fly out to end the game and keep Tulsa off the scoreboard.
It was the second time this season that the Drillers had been shut out.
INSIDE THE GAME
*Prior to his ninth-inning hit, Ramos was 0-17 in the series with the RockHounds.
*The night for the Drillers was summed up by one play in the top of the seventh inning. Leading off, Alex Freeland hit a liner that glanced off the glove of third baseman Cooper Bowman who inadvertently kicked the ball directly to shortstop Jack Winkler who threw to first to retire Freeland
*Tulsa starting pitcher Yon Castro recorded only one out and was charged with all five first-inning runs on five hits and two walks.
*Midland added two more runs in the second inning against Ben Harris. Jack Little temporarily stopped the bleeding by holding the RockHounds without a run in the bottom of the third.
*It was the best and worst of times for Tulsa reliever Ronan Kopp. In the fourth, he allowed two hits, walked four batters and threw a wild pitch. Two runs scored before a strikeout ended the inning and started a stretch of four straight strikeouts for Kopp.
*Outfielder Alleyne pitched the eighth inning for the Drillers as Midland plated its final two runs of the game.
*Tulsa is now 1-4 in the six-game series with the RockHounds and has been outscored 43-21 in the five games.
*Midland batters are hitting .339 in the series and Drillers pitchers have walked 28.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers and RockHounds will play the sixth and final game of their series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. and the starting pitchers are expected to be:
TUL – LHP Justin Wrobleski (1-1, 4.76 ERA)
MID – RHP Royber Salinas (2-1, 2.59 ERA)