Drillers Get Second Straight Walk-Off Win With Home Run

Tulsa was one strike away from losing two different times, but Thomas Field won it with a walk-off homer.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:24 pm

By: News On 6

Drillers Get Second Straight Walk-Off Win With Home Run

Originally Published: May 18, 2011 5:26 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Drillers came down to their final strike of the game twice, but Thomas Field launched a three-run walk-off home run for a 4-3 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Wednesday.

The Drillers (22-16) entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-1, and two of their first three batters of the inning were retired to bring them one out away from a loss. Lars Davis then fell to an 0-2 count in the next at-bat, but the Naturals could not close.

Davis managed to connect on a single to keep the game going, which brought Field to the plate with runners on first and third still trailing by two.

After five pitches, Field stood at a 2-2 count, which again brought Tulsa one strike away from a loss. But Field launched the next pitch over the right field wall for a dramatic walk-off win.

Patrick Keating gave up the game-winning blast, which gave him his third blown save of the season and caused his ERA to balloon to more than 5.00. Josh Sullivan ended up with a win for Tulsa after pitching the final four innings and allowing two runs on three hits.

The Naturals started the game’s scoring in the top of the first with an RBI groundout by Christian Colon, and Tulsa tied the game in the third thanks to a sacrifice fly by Tim Wheeler.

The score remained 1-1 until the seventh, when Nick Francis gave NW Arkansas the lead again with an RBI single. Tim Smith then led off the top of the ninth with a home run to increase the lead to two and set up the thrilling finish.

The Drillers now have won two consecutive games in walk-off fashion after winning 5-4 Tuesday on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th. They will try to continue their momentum with the finale of a four-game series against the Travelers at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.