RoughRiders Sweep Drillers

For the third straight game, the Tulsa Drillers got a strong performance from its starting pitcher. And for the third straight game, the Frisco RoughRiders staged a late rally to spoil the outing.

The RoughRiders rallied to score four runs with two outs in the top of the eighth inning Monday afternoon at ONEOK Field to overcome a solid outing from starter Sean Gallagher and hand the Drillers a 6-3 loss. It was the fourth straight defeat for Tulsa.

Gallagher allowed only two runs on six hits over six innings of work, but he did not factor in the decision. The former big leaguer has turned in quality starts in all three of his outings with the Drillers and now has a 1.86 earned run average.

Frisco's bullpen held the Drillers scoreless over the final five innings to complete the sweep. Arlett Mavare picked up his first win of the year after allowing just one hit in three innings of relief.

The RoughRiders raced out to an early lead in the second when center fielder Joe Benson smacked a solo home run that landed at the base of the scoreboard beyond the left field fence. It was Benson's second homer in as many games with Frisco after joining the team prior to Sunday's game.

The Drillers capitalized on RoughRiders errors in both the second and third innings to turn their one-run deficit into a one-run advantage.

With runners on first and third in the second frame, catcher Dustin Garneau hit a sharp ground ball to short that Hanser Alberto misplayed, allowing Kyle Parker to score Tulsa's first run.

In the third, Rafael Ortega singled to get Tulsa started. Delta Cleary Jr. followed with a textbook bunt down the third base line. When rounding second on the play, Ortega alertly recognized a vacant third base and advanced. Pitcher Nick McBride, who lost his balance when fielding the bunt, attempted a throw to the shortstop as he raced to cover third. The ill-advised throw skipped into left field, allowing Ortega to scamper home to give the Drillers a 2-1 lead.

A sacrifice fly by Jayson Langfels in the fourth gave Tulsa an insurance run, but the Drillers' two-run advantage would not hold.

Brett Nicholas cut Tulsa's lead to one in the sixth with a solo shot to right. The long ball was the designated hitter's 11th on the season.

Frisco reclaimed the lead for good in the eighth, scoring four runs off Tulsa reliever Cole White. After retiring the first two RoughRiders without problem, White issued consecutive hits to Nicholas and Alex Buchholz. Chih-Hsien Chiang then followed with a soft line drive that fell in front of right fielder Kent Matthes for an RBI single to knot the game up at three.

After intentionally walking Benson, Odubel Herrera chopped a single through the middle to score both Buchholz and Chiang to give Frisco the lead.

The RoughRiders tacked on an additional run to make the score 6-3 when White uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Benson to score from third.

The loss was the first for White since joining Tulsa on May 14.

The finale with Frisco concluded a six-game homestand for the Drillers. Tuesday, the team heads south to take on the Midland RockHounds at Citibank Ballpark. Tim Gustafson (2-3, 5.56 ERA) will take the mound against Midland's Murphy Smith (4-5, 2.62 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.