Drillers Drop Championship Deciding Game At Midland

The Tulsa Drillers run at their first Texas League Championship since 1998 ended on a rainy Sunday in Midland.

The RockHounds got early home runs from Dusty Coleman and Connor Crumbliss and posted a 5-0 victory in the fifth and deciding game of the TL Championship. The victory gave the Hounds the TL Championship with a three games to two series win.

The Drillers had several chances to score in the first half of the game against Midland starter Nate Long, putting runners on base in each of the first six innings.They had seven hits through the first six innings, but stranded eight runners on base.

For Midland, it was a different story. The Hounds' first hit off Tulsa starter Eddie Butler came in the second inning on a one-out single by Jeremy Barfield. Butler's next pitch was driven over the left field wall by Dusty Coleman, giving the Hounds a 2-0 lead.

The Drillers had hits in each of the next three innings, but could not push across a run.

The Hounds used another longball to extend their lead in the fifth. A two-out solo home run by Conner Crumbliss upped the margin to 3-0.

Any hopes of a Tulsa comeback ended in the sixth inning. In the top half of the inning, the Drillers put runners at second and third with two outs when Tyler Massey walked and Brian Humphries doubled. After a nine-pitch battle, reliever Marcus Walden got a pop out from Trevor Story to end the threat and keep the Drillers scoreless.

In the bottom half of the sixth, the RockHounds added two more runs to increase their lead to 5-0. Barfield doubled home one of the runs, and Matt Chapman singled home another.

Butler suffered the loss, but his final pitching line was misleading. He battled through the first five innings but was hurt by the two homers. Butler worked 5.2 innings, surrendering 5 runs on 8 hits. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out 5.

Long, who led the Texas League with 13 regular season wins, lasted 5.2 innings and blanked the Drillers despite surrendering 6 hits. He issued only one walk and struck out five while picking up his second victory of the series.

Tulsa out-hit Midland 9-8. Humphries led the way with three, including two doubles. Taylor Featherston, Delta Cleary Jr. and Ryan Casteel had two each.

The Drillers stranded 11 runners on base, while the Hounds left only 4. Tulsa had a base runner in every inning.

For the RockHounds, it was their third appearance in the TL Championship since 2009 and their second title.

The Drillers were able to extend the season to its final game despite a pitching staff that was hampered by injuries. Tulsa was without the services of Jon Gray throughout the post-season. In addition, relievers Cole White and Josh Mueller were also apparently not available for the final series.