Early Lead Helps Drillers Top Corpus Christi

The Tulsa Drillers picked up their fourth win of the season with a 6-3 win over Corpus Christi.

Tulsa took an early lead, but the Hooks efforted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth thanks so a double by Austin Wates and a two run homer by Brandon Barnes to cut the lead, but it the rally wasn't enough to take down the Drillers.

Tulsa got out front early in the top of the second. Ben Paulsen, the first batter up, blasted a home run to right field before Tim Torres singled to right and advanced to second off a wild pitch by the Hooks pitcher Henry Vilar. Later Angelys Nina smacked a line drive to left for a double that scored Torres making it 2-0. A single by Lars Davis scored Nina and after another single by Drew Pomeranz, Josh Rutledge stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Davis an gave Tulsa a 4-0 lead.

The scoring continued for Tulsa in the third as Nolan Arenado extended his hitting streak to six straight games with a leadoff double. Two batters later, Tim Torres belted his first home run of the season to put Tulsa in front 6-0.

Corpus Christi tried for a comeback in the last inning. Tulsa sent in Josh Sullivan to replace Coty Woods. Austin Wates started things off for the Hooks with a fly ball to left center field for a ground-rule double. Jonathan Singleton then singled a ground ball to right that scored Wates and cut Tulsa's lead to 6-1. One batter later, with two outs, Brandon Barnes blasted a home run to left field to make it 3-0 with two outs. Jose Martinez then flied out to center field to end the game with the Drillers winning 6-3.

Tulsa set a season high with 13 hits an were paced by Nina who tallied three hits, while Paulsen, Torres and Davis added two each.

Drew Pomeranz, the fifth starter in the Rockies went four innings for the Drillers allowing four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

Joey Williamson followed him to the mound with two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while claiming the victory and his second win of the season.

The Drillers will play in the home opener Thursday at 7:05 hosting San Antonio.