Drillers Lose Pitching Duel To Cardinals

Despite a stellar outing from starter Jon Gray, the Tulsa Drillers lost a 2-1 game Tuesday night in their road trip finale in Springfield on a walk-off home run.

Gray pitched six scoreless and hitless innings, striking out seven while walking three.

However, with the game tied at one, Jacob Wilson came to the plate to lead off the bottom of the ninth for the Cardinals. After fanning on the first pitch, he launched a ball from Kraig Sitton over the right field wall to end the game in walk-off fashion.

While the Drillers lost, the Arkansas Travelers beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 5-2. Had Tulsa won and Arkansas lost, the Drillers would have clinched the Texas League North Division First Half title.

However, the magic number to clinch for Tulsa remains at two. With Arkansas coming to town for a four-game series, the two teams have the opportunity to play each other for the division's First Half title.

If the Drillers win any of the games of the series, they will clinch the North Division's First Half and guarantee a playoff spot.

After Tuesday's game remained scoreless for the first six innings, the Drillers finally broke the deadlock with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Joey Wong reached first base on a fielder's choice after Harold RIggins singled. With two outs, Jared Simon pulled a ball down the third base foul line that resulted in a double and scored Wong from first.

Ryan Arrowood came into the game in relief of Gray in the seventh inning. After causing the first two batters to ground out, Jonathan Rodriguez broke up Tulsa's combined no-hitter and tied the game with one swing of the bat.

The recently named all-star took a fly ball over the left field wall for his sixth home run of the season, tying the game at one.

The score would stay that way until Wilson's heroic walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.