Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Drillers high-powered offense could not get much going on Friday night at ONEOK Field. Amarillo starting pitcher Junior Sanchez kept Tulsa scoreless through the first 5 2/3 innings, and a pair of relievers kept the status quo over the final 3 1/3 frames as the Sod Poodles blanked the Drillers 5-0.
It marked Tulsa’s fifth shutout loss this season and the third at ONEOK Field. The loss also evened the series at two wins each with two games remaining in the six-game set.
The loss also dropped Tulsa to two games behind first-place Springfield in the second-half, North Division standings, as the Cardinals again defeated Arkansas.
Christian Zazueta made his ninth Double-A start for the Drillers and uncharacteristically gave up three runs over the first two innings. In the top of the first, Amarillo had a runner at second base when Jansel Luis hit a home run on the first pitch he saw to give the Sod Poodles a 2-0 lead.
One inning later, Druw Jones hit a leadoff single, stole second base, and scored on Angel Ortiz’s double, increasing the lead to 3-0.
Zazueta held Sod Poodles scoreless over the next two innings but surrendered two more runs in the fifth. The inning began with four consecutive hits that produced the fourth run. With the bases loaded, the fifth run scored when the Drillers turned a 6-4-3 double play.
Tulsa struggled against Sanchez. The Amarillo start gave up just three hits and retired 16 of the last 18 batters he faced with nine strikeouts in the process in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
Dawson Brown followed Sanchez on the mound and continued to hold the Drillers off the scoreboard for the next 2 1/3 innings.
Antonio Menendez pitched the final inning and retired the side with two strikeouts to end the game.
The Drillers were held without a hit over the final seven innings and finished 0-5 with runners in scoring position.
GAME NOTES
*The loss was just the third of the two-week home stand for the Drillers, dropping their record on the stand to 7-3.
*Zazueta was officially charged with five runs on nine hits and only one walk. He also set a new Double-A high by striking out nine. He has struck out at least seven batters in six of his nine starts with the Drillers. Zazueta was charged with the loss, dropping his Double-A record to 1-2.
*Josue De Paula earned a hit in the first inning to raise his hitting streak to six straight games
*Christian Ruebeck worked two scoreless innings in relief of Zazueta and gave up just one hit and two walks with a strikeout.
*Myles Caba followed Ruebeck and blanked Amarillo for the final two innings.
*Tulsa made a series of roster moves prior to Friday’s contest. The Drillers began the day with only 27 active players but added pitchers Josehp Marte, Nick Putnam and Alex Walsh from the Dodgers Arizona Complex. To open the two other roster spots, Nelson Quiroz and Zach Root were both placed on the Injured List.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will continue their series with the Sod Poodles on Saturday night at ONEOK Field. Starting time is slated for 7:00 p.m. with another Fireworks Show scheduled for after the game. The pitching matchup is expected to be:
Amarillo – RHP Brian Curley (1-3, 7.22 ERA)
Tulsa – RHP Patrick Copen (7-6, 6.03 ERA)