Drillers Thump Arkansas 6-1

An all-around team effort produced a Drillers 6-1 victory against the Arkansas Travelers on Saturday night in Little Rock.

Both starters took no-hitters into the fifth inning. An Anderson De La Rosa double with two outs in the bottom of the fifth was the first hit of the game and broke up Gray's no-hitter.

Tulsa returned the favor by ending Travs starter Yeiper Castillo's no-hit bid in the top of the sixth inning. Following a one-out walk drawn by Tyler Massey, Taylor Featherston registered the first Drillers hit of the game on a soft line drive to center field, moving Massey to third.

After Featherston stole second, Delta Cleary Jr. drew a walk to load the bases for Christhian Adames. Adames delivered with a hard-hit single that Travs first baseman Brian Hernandez could not handle, scoring Massey and Featherston and putting the first runs of the game on the board for a 2-0 Drillers lead.

Arkansas got one back in the bottom of the seventh. Gray, who pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this season, gave up a one-run solo shot to Hernandez, his first in a Travelers jersey, as well as the first home run hit in Dickey-Stephens Park this season.

The Drillers added three insurance runs in the top of the eighth at the expense of the Angels' Sean Burnett, who was making his first rehab appearance after not playing since last May due to shoulder surgery.

Back-to-back singles from Ryan Casteel and Massey started the inning. Cleary Jr. would also single to load the bases following an infield pop-up from Featherston. Adames made it 3-1 when he drew a walk in the next at-bat, his third RBI of the game. After Tom Murphy struck out, Brian Humphries brought home Massey and Cleary Jr. on a ground ball double down the third base line that just barely stayed fair.

Cleary Jr. singled home Casteel in the top of the ninth to stretch the Drillers lead to 6-1.

Gray was awarded his third win of the season on 6.2 IP, allowing only 1 run and striking out 2. Ken Roberts relieved Gray with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and pitched four straight outs. Scott Oberg retired the side in the ninth and closed out a 6-1 Drillers win.

Arkansas starter Castillo went six innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four.

Cleary Jr. and Casteel were the only Drillers with multiple hits, while Adames added three RBI.

The Drillers will close out their road trip in the series finale against Arkansas on Sunday in Little Rock. Tyler Anderson, currently fourth in the Texas League with a 2.40 ERA, will take on Michael Roth. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m.