Drillers Drop Series Opener Against Hooks

The Tulsa Drillers dropped their opening game of a three-game series in Corpus Christi Saturday night by a final score of 7-2.

The Hooks did not wait long to get to Tulsa starter Ryan Kulik, as Corpus Christi scored three runs in the first two innings. Tony Kemp led off the bottom half of the first inning by drawing a walk. Delino DeShields was then credited with a single when his sac bunt attempt was slightly mishandled by Kulik, who was unable to throw the speedy Deshields out.

Andrew Aplin then reached on a fielder's choice in which Kemp was thrown out at home. After Aplin stole second, Jonathan Meyer plated both DeShields and Aplin for the first two runs of the game.

Telvin Nash hit a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the second to put the Hooks up 3-0.

Tulsa responded via Taylor Featherston with two runs in the top of the third. After Tyler Massey hit a ground-rule double, Featherston launched a ball over the left field wall to shorten Corpus Christi's lead to just one run.

The home run was Featherston's eleventh of the season, tying him with Ryan Casteel for the team lead.

Nash struck again to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning when he hit his second home run of the night, putting the Hooks up 4-2.

Kulik would battle to get out of the fifth inning with no further damage allowed, his last inning of the evening. He pitched five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks.

The game would remain 4-2 until Rene Garcia's three-run blast off of Tulsa reliever Kraig Sitton in the bottom of the eighth put the game out of reach.

The Drillers were faced with the task of batting against Thomas Shirley, the Texas League's ERA and WHIP leader with Tulsa's Dan Winkler out for the season. Shirley pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up only the two runs on Featherston's homer while allowing eight hits and one walk and striking out three.

Tyler Massey led Tulsa with three hits on the night, while Adames, at two, was the only other Driller with multiple hits.

Tulsa and Corpus Christi will continue their series Sunday night at Whataburger Field. LHP Tyler Anderson (3-3, 2.81 ERA) will go for the Drillers, while the Hooks will send RHP Brady Rodgers (3-9, 4.78 ERA) to the mound. First pitch in Corpus Christi is schedule for 6:10 PM.