Drillers' Rally Spoiled By Corpus Christi Walk-Off

The Tulsa Drillers lost to the Corpus Christi Hooks on a walk-off hit by a final score of 6-5 Monday night.

The Drillers had rallied from a devastating five-run Corpus Christi fifth inning to tie the game in the top of the ninth.

After maintaining a lead and holding the Hooks scoreless for the first four innings, Corpus Christi'sfifthh inning gave the Hooks a one-run lead.

However, Jared Simon's leadoff home run in the top of the ninth tied the game and renewedTulsa'ss hope.

Unfortunately, the Hooks were able to produce a run in the bottom of the ninth and complete the sweep of the Drillers.

After Sosa singled off of interim closer Cole White in the bottom of the ninth and was followed by Andrew Aplin drawing a walk, the Hooks yet again displayed their speed when a double steal shifted the two runners over to second and third.

Jonathan Meyer then took a 1-2 pitch from White to left field that fell for a hit and scored the game-winning run for Corpus Christi.

Tulsa's offense opened the game with two runs in the top of the first and took a lead in the series for the first time. After Christian Adames drew a walk and Taylor Featherston's single put runners at first and second, Brian Humphries hit a two-run double to put the Drillers up 2-0.

Again off the bat of Humphries, Tulsa doubled their lead with two more runs in the top of the third. Featherstondrewa a one-out walk and Ryan Casteel put runners on the corners with an ensuing base hit to right field. Casteel then stole second to put runners at second and third in front of another two-run hit from Humphries, this time a ground ball up the middle to give the Drillers a 4-0 lead.

Despite Humphries' production, Tulsa could not hang on to the lead due to one explosive inning from Corpus Christi. Richard Castillo's otherwise stellar outing turned south in the bottom of the fifth.

After Castillo recorded the first two outs in the inning, a walk and a double put runners at second and third for the Hooks. MP Cokinos then scored two runs with a seeing-eye single through the left side of the infield to cut the Drillers' lead in half.

After Tony Kemp's base knock in the next at-bat, Ruben Sosa hit his first home run of the year on a 1-2 count to give the Hooks a one-run lead at 5-4 and end Castillo's night.

Simon's blast in the top of the ninth would prove to be not quite enough and make necessary the Hooks' walk-off heroics.

Humphries four RBI on two hits led Tulsa's offense, while Casteel was the only other Driller with multiple hits.

Drillers' starter Richard Castillo finished with five earned runs off of six hits and a walk in 4.2 innings after holding the Hooks scoreless and to only one hit through the first four innings.

The loss dropped Tulsa's record on the road trip to 1-5.

The Drillers will return home Wednesday night for a four-game series against the Arkansas Travelers. Tulsa will startleftyP Carlos Hernandez (1-4, 2.80 ERA) in the opener, who will face the Travs' left-handerP Kramer Sneed (5-6, 4.81 ERA). First pitch for the Bark in the Park game at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM.