Drillers Snap Four-Game Skid Behind Miller, Outman
SAN ANTONIO, TX- The Tulsa Drillers snapped a four-game losing skid on Friday night, as they defeated the San Antonio Missions by a score of 8-4 at Nelson Wolff Stadium. The Drillers remain in second place in the Texas League North, a half a game behind the Wichita Wind Surge,
SAN ANTONIO, TX- The Tulsa Drillers snapped a four-game losing skid on Friday night, as they defeated the San Antonio Missions by a score of 8-4 at Nelson Wolff Stadium. The Drillers remain in second place in the Texas League North, a half a game behind the Wichita Wind Surge, who fell at home to the Frisco Roughriders on Friday evening.
Friday’s game was scoreless through two innings before James Outman drove in Chris Betts with a two-run homer to right-center field for the first runs of the in the top of the third.
In the fifth inning, the Drillers started swinging the bats at will as they knocked Missions pitchers Henry Henry and Nolan Watson to extend their lead to 7-0. The scoring barrage began when Outman earned his third RBI of the game when he drove in Leonel Valera with a single to center field. Jacob Amaya would send Chris Betts in for his second run of the game on the next at-bat. Devin Mann kept the pedal down as he hit an RBI double to give the Drillers another run with no outs in the inning. The final two runs came off an RBI groundout by Ryan Ward and an RBI single from Carson Taylor.
The Missions would add two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. The first came after Kory Howell broke Bobby Miller's shutout as he lined a double to right field. The other came on an RBI single up the middle from Chandler Seagle that allowed Howell to score from second.
Miller was replaced by Jose Adames after walking Thomas Milone in the bottom of the sixth inning. Miller finished the game allowing two runs off five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Miller sat down the first seven batters he faced to begin the ballgame.
Leonel ended a two-inning run drought as he scored on a fielder's choice after the Missions failed to end the inning when Amaya barely escaped a 5-4-3 double-play and reached the first base bag. This run extended the Driller’s lead to 8-2.
Guillermo Zuniga took the mound to begin the bottom of the eighth inning. Adames ended the day with two strikeouts and a walk on the mound.
The Missions took advantage early of the pitching change, as they drove in two runs off of four singles in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Drillers lead to 8-4. However, the Missions’ rally would be cut short after Howell flew into a double play to end the inning.
Jordan Leasure followed Zuniga in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With runners on the corners and two out in the ninth, Leasure struck out Domingo Leyba on a foul tip, to seal an 8-4 victory for the Drillers.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*The Drillers were out-hit 9-to-11 in the winning effort but managed to plate four more runs than the Missions.
*Each team had an error in the game.
*The Drillers used a five-run, six-hit fifth inning to break the game open.
*Miller improved to 2-1 as a starter. The win puts the Texas Tech product over .500 for the season.
*Outman was a near-perfect 2-for-3 from the plate with three RBI, two runs, and two walks.
*Outman’s home run extends the Drillers Texas League home run total to 75.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers and Missions will meet in game five of their six-game series on Saturday night in San Antonio. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Nelson Wolff Stadium. The starting pitchers are slated to be:
Tulsa – LHP John Rooney (2-2, 5.40 ERA)
San Antonio – RHP Reggie Lawson (0-4, 9.43 ERA)