Drillers End Tough Road Trip With Lopsided Loss

In the first-half of the season, the Tulsa Drillers were swept in a three-game series by Frisco, yet went on to win the first-half North Division crown. Tulsa will hope for a similar feat in the second half.

Sunday night, Frisco completed a three-game sweep of the Drillers with a 10-4 victory at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

The defeat ended a six-game road trip for the Drillers in which they went 1-5. It also dropped them two games behind first place Springfield in the second-half standings with only 14 games remaining in the regular season.

Things started promisingly for the Drillers in Sunday's outing as they plated two runs in the top of the third, but it quickly fell apart in the bottom half of the inning.

With the game scoreless, three consecutive singles from Dallas Tarleton, Jaron Shepherd and Tyler Kuhn gave Tulsa a 1-0 lead. A two-out single from Kyle Parker plated another run and doubled the lead.

The RoughRiders more than answered in the bottom of the third. Three straight singles to open the inning off Drillers starter Tim Gustafson loaded the bases. After a ground out from Luis Sardinas plated a run, a hit from Rougned Odor tied the game at 2-2.

A walk to Joe Benson loaded the bases for Brett Nicholas, who quickly emptied them with his 21st home run of the season. The grand slam put the Riders in front 6-2.

Tulsa got one of the runs back in the fourth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Jayson Langfels drew a walk and swiped second base. Tarleton then brought him home with a double to make it 6-3.

Newcomer Juan Crousset pulled the Drillers even closer in the sixth inning. Playing in his first game with Tulsa this season, Crousset hit a solo home run that cut the lead to only two runs.

It would remain that way until Frisco put the game away with a four-run eighth against reliever Joe Gardner. Sardinas and Odor each delivered two-run singles to give the RoughRiders a 10-4 lead.

The Tulsa lineup was again without Kiel Roling. The first baseman missed his second straight game with an injury. It was also without shortstop Cristhian Adames, who was officially placed on the disabled list Saturday.

Tarleton enjoyed his biggest game of the season, going 3-4.

Gustafson lasted six innings and suffered the loss to fall to 6-10.

The Drillers will have a much-needed day off on Monday before beginning a seven-game homestand Tuesday night at ONEOK Field. The stand will open with a four-game set with Arkansas. The Drillers are expected to send Christian Bergman (8-7, 3.27 ERA) to the mound in game one with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.