Drillers Continue Winning Ways In Texas

The Tulsa Drillers continued a successful road trip to Texas on Friday night with an 8-3 win over the Frisco RoughRiders. The victory was the third in four games for Tulsa in its trip to Midland and Frisco, with two games remaining against the Riders.

Ryan Casteel and Taylor Featherston knocked in three runs each, and Jon Gray worked five innings to give the Drillers the win. The victory for Gray, a University of Oklahoma product, was his tenth of the year.

The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes by rain, and each starting pitcher seemed affected as both teams got on the scoreboard in the first inning. In the top of the first, Tulsa's Delta Cleary Jr. opened the game with a single and then stole second base. With two outs, Ryan Casteel brought him home with a base hit.

In the bottom of the first, Frisco used a similar scenario to tie the game at 1-1. With two outs and the bases empty, Tulsa starter Jon Gray walked Odubel Herrera, who promptly stole second. Trevor Adams brought him home with a base hit to center field.

The Drillers used a big third inning to take the lead, and Casteel again played a part. Jose Rivera walked and Chris O'Dowd singled to put runners at the corners with one out. After Taylor Featherston plated Rivera with a sacrifice fly, Casteel gave the Drillers a 4-1 lead with his 16th home run of the season.

A two-run homer for Frisco's Joey Gallo in the bottom of the fourth cut the Tulsa lead to a single run. For Gallo, it was his 17th homer of the year.

Tulsa got the two runs back in its next at-bat. Cleary Jr. drew a leadoff walk, and Featherston delivered his 14th home run to up the Drillers lead to 6-3.

The Drillers added another run in the sixth to pad the margin. Tyler Massey led off with a double, and -Jayson Langfels followed with a run-scoring hit to make it 7-3.

Trevor Story closed out the game's scoring when he led off the top of the eighth with his fifth home run at the Double-A level.

Gray allowed only two hits and worked around four walks in five innings to pick up his 10th of the year.

Nate Striz and Kraig Sitton worked two scoreless innings in relief to complete the victory.

Tulsa out-hit Frisco 10-5 in the contest.

The Drillers will play the second game of their three-game series in Frisco Saturday night. The pitching matchup will feature Richard Castillo (3-9, 5.00 ERA) against Jake Thompson (1-0, 1.69 ERA) of Frisco. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Dr Pepper Ballpark.