Tulsa Tops Arkansas To Clinch First Half Title

The Tulsa Drillers capitalized on strong pitching Saturday to top the Arkansas Travelers 3-1, picking up their seventh consecutive win in the process. The win also clinches the first-half title for the Drillers, guaranteeing a spot in the Texas League playoffs.

Tulsa took the lead as early as possible in the contest, as Josh Rutledge homered in the first at-bat of the game – his ninth of the season – to take a 1-0 advantage. The shortstop added a second RBI in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly, after Michael Mitchell tripled in the preceding at-bat.

The Drillers capped off their scoring in the top of the fourth. After back-to-back singles put Nolan Arenado on third base, Corey Dickerson sent a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Arenado home to take a 3-0 advantage.

Edwar Carbera (7-4) kept the Travelers from building any offense in the contest, giving up just three hits and one earned run, a line-drive single in the bottom of the sixth, and striking out five in his eight innings. Coty Woods picked up his 12th save of the season, closing out the final inning for the Drillers.

A.J. Schugel (3-6) received a loss for the outing, allowing three earned runs on four hits in seven innings of service.

Tulsa will try to make it eight straight at 6 p.m. Sunday, in the final game of the four-game series against the Travelers.