Drillers Win To Pull Within One Of Title

As has become the Drillers 2014 post-season usual, late heroics propelled Tulsa to a 5-2 victory in Game 3 of the Texas League Championship Series, putting the Drillers within one game of their first Texas League Championship since 1998.

Friday night in Midland, Will Swanner played the role of hero. Swanner drove in all five of Tulsa's runs in the contest, including a game-winning three-run home run in the top of the 11th inning.

After Tulsa had given up 2-1 lead in the eighth inning, momentum seemed to be shifting in Midland's favor.

Nate Striz was able to fend off the RockHounds, however, as he held Midland scoreless and hitless in a crucial ninth and tenth inning, making possible the Drillers' eleventh inning rally.

Brian Humphries began the eleventh inning outburst with a one-out single after battling through a 10-pitch at-bat. After Trevor Story flew out, Tyler Massey then drew a two-out walk to put runners at first and second in front of Swanner.

Swanner, ahead in the count 3-1, then blasted a three-run shot over the right-center field wall off of Midland reliever Jose Flores, suddenly putting the Drillers ahead 5-2. Swanner rounded the base and came home to a very excited dugout, most of which had come out onto the field to meet Swanner at the plate.

Kraig Sitton struck out two in a perfect bottom of the eleventh to record the save and put the Drillers up 2-1 going into Saturday night's contest.

Friday night's weather seemed much more indicative of playoff football than playoff baseball. Temperature for the entire game remained in the fifties, while a cold, heavy mist and a very strong wind persisted throughout the game.

The RockHounds tallied the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Matt Chapman launched the second pitch he saw high into right field. The ball at first appeared to be a deep yet routine fly, but the left-to-right winds of 20+ miles per hour helped the ball carry beyond the fence and into the Midland bullpen, putting the Hounds up 1-0.

Tulsa would take the lead two innings later. After Ryan Casteel led off the fourth by drawing a walk, Massey hit a two-out single to put runners on first and second. Down 0-2 in the count, Swanner then smacked a double off the right-center field wall to score both Casteel and Massey and put the Drillers up 2-1.

While the game remained at 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Midland encountered a chance to tie the game or even take the lead. With Tulsa starter Carlos Hernandez still on the mound, the RockHounds hit two consecutive one-out singles. Hernandez then seemingly caused Midland catcher Beau Taylor to fly out to center field, but the wild wind caused the ball to take an unusual route away from center fielder Delta Cleary Jr. and fall for a single, loading the bases.

However, Hernandez struck out 2014 first-round draft choice Daniel Robertson and then got Kenny Wilson to fly out to end the inning and cap off another spectacular post-season performance. Hernandez, who pitched with the RockHounds for most of the previous two seasons and spent his first seven seasons of professional baseball in the Oakland Athletics farm system, limited his former team to only one run in seven innings on seven hits and one walk while striking out six.

Unfortunately, Tulsa was unable to escape another jam in the ensuing eighth inning. After Nelson Gonzalez recorded the first out, Dusty Coleman pulled a hard-hit ball to shortstop Trevor Story. The slippery ball, which would have likely resulted in an inning-ending double play, was mishandled by Story, allowing both runners to remain on the bases.

Ken Roberts relieved Gonzalez and caused Max Muncy to fly out. Roberts then seemed to struggle with control, possibly due to the wet weather. He issued a walk to Chapman to load the bases and then walked home a run with D'Arby Myers up to bat, tying the game at 2-2 but setting the stage for the Drillers' extra-innings win.

Outside of Swanner's two hits, Cristhian Adames, Humphries and Massey were the only other Drillers to record a hit, each with one apiece.

The extra-innings victory was the fourth such win in Drillers post-season history and their second this season, bringing their all-time post-season extra-innings record to 4-4.

Tulsa will go for the Texas League title Saturday night when they send lefty Jayson Aquino (0-0, 3.00 ERA) to the mound. Midland will counter with Deryk Hooker (1-0, 3.45 ERA). First pitch for the potential clincher at Security Bank Ballpark is scheduled for 7 p.m.