Drillers Get Rolled In Midland

The Tulsa Drillers six-game road trip to Texas got off to a rocky start Tuesday night in Midland.

The Drillers' offense was limited to one run on only three hits while the RockHounds pounded out 15 hits and romped to a 10-1 victory at Citibank Ballpark. The defeat was the fifth straight for Tulsa.

Midland jumped to an early lead with a run in the first inning off Drillers starting pitcher Tim Gustafson. Conner Crumbliss led off with a bunt base hit and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Dusty Coleman.

The RockHounds tacked on four more runs in the second. Chad Oberacker led off with a two-base hit and scored when Darwin Perez followed with a triple. After catcher Beau Taylor singled home Perez, Crumbliss made it four straight hits with a single to right. Anthony Aliotti doubled home Taylor, and Jake Goebbert singled home Crumbliss to make it 5-0.

The offensive fun continued for Midland in the fifth inning as Aliotti doubled and moved to third on a base hit by Goebbert. Tyler Ladendorf doubled home both runners to increase the RockHounds lead to seven runs.

It swelled to 9-0 with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Josh Mueller. Ladendorf added another run-scoring double, and Perez produced a run-scoring ground out.

Tulsa's only run scored in the eighth inning. Jayson Langfels led off with a base hit and later scored on a ground out from Cristhian Adames.

Midland starting pitcher Murphy Smith was dominant in his seven-inning outing. Smith blanked the Drillers on only one hit while walking three and striking out eight. The win evened the right-hander's record at 5-5.

Gustafson was charged with the loss, surrendering 7 runs on 12 hits in only 4 1/3 innings. The loss dropped his record to 2-4.

Crumbliss and Goebbert led Midland's big offensive night with three hits each.

Tulsa's three hits matched a season low. Kyle Parker's eight-game hitting streak was snapped with a 0-4 night.

The Drillers will look to snap their skid Wednesday night when they will send big league veteran Roy Oswalt (0-1, 5.40 ERA) to the mound. The RockHounds are expected to counter with ex-OSU hurler Zach Neal (5-1, 2.72 ERA).

First pitch in west Texas is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.