Drillers Top Corpus Christi For Fourth-Straight Win

The Tulsa Drillers have won four of its last five games thanks to a 7-1 afternoon victory over Corpus Christi on Monday.

Ben Paulsen's three-run triple in the bottom of the first put Tulsa on the board while strong pitching and bats by the Drillers propelled them to the win.

In the bottom of the first, Josh Rutledge and Michael Mitchell started off the game for Tulsa with back-to-back singles. Nolan Arenado drew the walk to load the bases. Drillers first baseman Ben Paulsen stepped to the plate and smacked a triple to right to score all three base runners and take a 3-0 lead.

Later in the fifth with the bases loaded yet again, Arenado singled to left to score Rutledge from third to make it 4-0.

Corpus Christi got on the board in the top of the sixth as Jose Martinez, the first batter up, launched a home run to left cutting it to 4-1.

In the bottom of that frame the first batter up for Tulsa, Mike Zuanich was stuck by a pitch and took first, then Angelys Nina smashed a fly ball to left field for a two-run homerun.

The Drillers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Zuanich doubled to score Kent Matthes from second and seal the 7-1 victory.

Paulsen led the way for Tulsa offensively with one hit and three RBI while Zuanich went two-for-two from the plate.

Joe Gardner went 3.1 innings for the Drillers allowing two hits and striking out three. Cory Riordan got the win and moves to 2-0 on the year after pitching 3.2 innings allowing one run and striking out four.

The Drillers return to action Tuesday hosting Corpus Christi at 7:05 p.m.