Tulsa Falls To Midland, Drops Out Of First Place In Division

August has been the best offensive month of the season for the Tulsa Drillers. They entered Thursday's game in Midland with a .275 team batting average in the month, having scored an average of over 6 runs in their 12 games. But, against RockHounds starting pitcher and former University of Oklahoma hurler Zach Neal, the Drillers' bats were silenced. Neal limited Tulsa to only two hits and one run in six innings of work as the RockHounds recorded a 5-3 victory at Citibank Ballpark.

The defeat dropped Tulsa's second-half record to 27-26 and out of a three-way first-place tie in the North Division standings.

Neal was outstanding with the only damage against him coming in the first inning. Tyler Kuhn led off the game with a double, moved to second on a ground out by Joey Wong and scored on another grounder from Kyle Parker.

The RockHounds wasted little time in evening the score. In the bottom of the first, Conner Crumbliss led off with a base hit off Tyler Matzek and moved to third on a single by D'Arby Myers. Matzek struck out the next two hitters before Tyler Ladendorf delivered a two-out double that scored Crumbliss to tie the game.

Midland struck again in the second to take the lead. Ryan Lipkin doubled with one out and scored when Darwin Perez followed with a base hit that put the RockHounds in front 2-1.

They increased their lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning as Matzek issued a pair of walks in front of a run-scoring single from Crumbliss.

Tulsa's deficit would remain two runs until the seventh inning when Midland would add a pair of insurance runs against reliever Kenny Roberts. The lefthander came on and failed to find the strike zone with his first ten pitches and eventually walked the bases loaded with one out.

Manager Kevin Riggs called on Juan Gonzalez from the bullpen and the right-hander was greeted with a two-run single by Ladendorf that put the RockHounds in front 5-1.

Jesus Castillo was also effective in relief of Neal. He did not allow a hit in two shutout innings.

The Drillers plated a pair of consolation runs in the ninth inning against Frank Gailey. With two outs and the bases empty, Parker singled and came home on a double by Kiel Roling. Dustin Garneau followed with another two-base hit that plated Roling with Tulsa's third and final run of the game.

Dailey recovered to retire Angelys Nina on a ground out to close out the contest.

The ninth-inning RBI for Roling was his 83rd of the season, tops in the Texas League.

Myers had three hits for the RockHounds, extending his hitting streak to 24 straight games, the longest streak in the TL this year.

Matzek labored through four innings, surrendering eight hits and three runs. The lefthander also issued three walks. The loss dropped his record to 8-8.

The Drillers now move to Frisco and will begin a three-game series with the RoughRiders Friday night. In the opener, Eddie Butler will make his third start for Tulsa, while Nick Martinez (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will make only his second Double A start for Frisco. First pitch at Dr Pepper Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05PM.