Drillers Knock off Rockhounds in Series Finale

NewsOn6.com

MIDLAND, Texas -- Tulsa avoided losing back-to-back games Friday with a 9-5 win over the Midland Rockhounds, in the final of a three-game series.

Drillers' (25-21) starter Rob Scahill (4-3) kept the Rockhounds' (19-28) offense in check for the majority of the game, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits in seven innings of service. Gary Daley (0-1) picked up his first loss of the season, giving up seven hits and six earned runs on 3.2 innings of service.

Tulsa jumped out to a big lead early, scoring six runs in the first three innings.

After putting two runners on base to start the second inning, James Cesario grounded into a double play, allowing Scott Beerer to score from third base. Four batters later, Warren Schaeffer knocked a line-drive single to left field to bring Lars Davis and Thomas Field home to take a 3-0 advantage.

A three-run home run from Cesario in the top of the third – his first long ball of the season – to make it a six-run lead for the Drillers.

Jermaine Mitchell knocked an RBI single in the bottom of the third to make it 6-1, but RBI doubles from Cesario and Warren Schaeffer scored three more, pushing the lead to eight runs.

Midland tacked on four more runs in the seventh and eighth inning, but couldn't pull off the comeback.

The Drillers now head to Frisco, Texas for a three-game series against the RoughRiders, the closing three of a six-game road trip.