Drillers Win, Headed Back to TL Championship Series
TULSA - The Tulsa Drillers are headed to their third straight Texas League Championship Series. The Drillers defeated the Arkansas Travelers 5-1 Sunday afternoon, giving themselves a chance to repeat as Texas League Champions for the first time in franchise history. Game 1 of the TLCS will take place on
TULSA - The Tulsa Drillers are headed to their third straight Texas League Championship Series. The Drillers defeated the Arkansas Travelers 5-1 Sunday afternoon, giving themselves a chance to repeat as Texas League Champions for the first time in franchise history. Game 1 of the TLCS will take place on Tuesday night in Amarillo against the Sod Poodles.
It is the first time in franchise history that the Drillers have gone to three straight championship series.
Arkansas was without a fifth starter for Sunday's deciding game, so reliever
The Drillers added to their lead in the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, after
An inning later,
Drillers starting pitcher
Vasquez shut down Arkansas in the final two innings. With two outs in the ninth, Nick Zammarelli doubled to keep the Travs' hopes alive, but Vasquez then struck out
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This marks the third straight season that the Drillers have won Game 5 of the TL North Division Series at ONEOK Field. Tulsa defeated Northwest Arkansas in 2017 and the Travelers last season.
Amarillo defeated Midland 7-5 Sunday to punch its ticket to the TLCS. It will be the second straight season that the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres Double-A affiliates will square off in the Texas League Championship.
Donovan Casey and Wong are the only two Tulsa players to hit safely in all five games of the series. Casey was 6-18 (.333) while Wong went 7-18 (.389).
The Tulsa bats erupted at just the right time, notching a series-high 12 hits in Game 5.
Vasquez earned his second save of the series.
The Drillers will have a chance to clinch a Texas League Championship at ONEOK Field for the first time. Game 3 and, if necessary, Games 4 and 5 are scheduled to be played in Tulsa. All four of the Drillers previous championships have been won on the road.
UP NEXT: Game 1, Texas League Championship Series in Amarillo or Midland, Texas. Opponent, game time and starting pitchers are TBA.