Drillers Win Fifth Straight On Late Home Run

Kiel Roling hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to propel the Tulsa Drillers to a 6-5 win over the Springfield Cardinals Wednesday night.

The Drillers had to withstand a really by the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth after Oscar Taveras' two-run homer cut the lead to one, but Michael Solbach shut the door, getting the final out for his first save of the year.

The win was Tulsa's fifth in a row, and the Drillers seem to be getting back to playing how they did in the first half of the year, when they ended the first half of the season in first place in the Texas League North Division. The Drillers are assured a playoff spot because of that, but are still two games below .500 for the second half of the season.

Joe Torres got the win for Tulsa, while Michael Blazek took the loss for Springfield.

The Drillers struck first in the third inning on an RBI single by Nolan Arenado that scored Warren Schaeffer. Tulsa extended its lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly by from Ben Paulsen in the top of the sixth inning.

Springfield cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame on a solo home run by Kolten Wong.

Tulsa responded in the top of the eighth on an RBI single from Paulsen. However, Springfield would not go quietly on its home field, tying the score on an Adam Melker solo homer and an RBI single from Chris Swauger.

The two teams will go at it once again in Springfield tomorrow night at 7:08 p.m.