Frisco Finishes Sweep Of Drillers

The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Tulsa Drillers 6-1 Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep at ONEOK Field. The RoughRiders, who own the best record in the Texas League, outscored the Drillers 22-5 in the series.

Tyler Massey tries to make a leaping catch of Nick Williams' triple in the first inning of Sunday's meeting with Frisco. (Rich Crimi)

Frisco third baseman Joey Gallo accounted for the final two runs for the Riders and entered the history books. Gallo belted a two-run homer in the ninth inning, giving him 40 on the season and making him the first player with consecutive 40-homer seasons in Minor League Baseball since Ron Kittle accomplished the feat in the 1981 and 1982 seasons.

The defeat marked the end of a six-game homestand for the Drillers, their next-to-last stand of the regular season. The Drillers won the first two games, but dropped the final four and finished with a 2-4 record.

Tulsa finished winless in five meetings with Frisco at ONEOK Field this season.

After a scoreless first inning, it took the RoughRiders only two pitches in the second to take the lead. On the first offering of the inning from Tulsa starter Carlos Hernandez, Trever Adams lined a single into centerfield. On the next pitch, Nick Williams hit a deep drive off the fence in straightaway centerfield. Williams raced to third on the hit, while Adams came home with the game's first run.

Frisco doubled its lead with another run in the third. Odubel Herrera led off with a bunt base hit and stole second base. Pat Cantwell followed with a single to right that scored Herrera to make it 2-0.

Adams led off the sixth inning with another hit off reliever Nate Striz and scored on a two-out double from Teodoro Martinez.

The Riders fourth run scored in a similar fashion to their second. Herrera led off with a base hit, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Chris O'Dowd. He scored on a double play grounder off the bat of Jorge Alfaro.

Gallo capped the scoring with his ninth-inning blast that cleared the bullpens in right field.

Frisco starting pitcher Alec Asher kept Tulsa off the scoreboard through the first six innings, blanking the Drillers on only four hits. The win was Asher's tenth of the year and improved his record to 10-11.

The Drillers did get on the board in the seventh inning. Consecutive singles by Jayson and Langfels and Tyler Massey put runners at first and third. Langfels scored the lone run when Jared Simon was thrown out by catcher Alfaro on a chopper just in front of the plate.

Hernandez was charged with the loss for Tulsa, allowing two runs on seven hits in his five innings of work.

The Drillers will have an off day on Monday before opening their final road trip of the regular season on Tuesday in North Little Rock. Tulsa will send Tyler Anderson (6-4, 2.14 ERA) to the mound while Arkansas will counter with former Tulsa Union pitcher Drew Ruckinski (10-6, 3.17 ERA). Starting time for the opener with the Travelers is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Dickey Stephens Park.