Drillers lose at Frisco

Frisco pitcher Barret Loux entered Thursday's matchup against Tulsa with a Texas League leading 13 victories, but none had come against the Drillers. After a stellar, seven-inning outing, Loux can now say he has beaten every team in the TL this season. The right-hander allowed only one run and his Frisco teammates rallied in the late innings to defeat Tulsa 5-1 at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

The RoughRiders broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to produce the victory.

For five innings, Tulsa starter Joe Gardner matched Loux. Entering the sixth, Gardner had allowed only one run on three hits, but the Riders took advantage of a Drillers error to break the tie.

Chris McGuiness opened the sixth with a leadoff single, and Ryan Strausborger advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Tommy Mendonca followed with a ground ball that shortstop Warren Schaeffer misplayed for an error, putting runners at first and third. Gardner's night ended with a walk to Leury Garcia that loaded the bases.

Tim Sexton relieved and got a groundball on a check swing from Guilder Rodriguez that second baseman Jimmy Cesario fielded and threw home to force McGuiness for the second out of the inning. Jose Felix then produced the key hit of the night with a base hit to centerfield that scored both Mendonca and Garcia to give the Riders a 3-1 lead.

They added two more runs in the seventh off Brett Jacobson. Jacobson hit Jurickson Profar with a pitch to open the inning before allowing a single to Jared Hoying. McGuiness followed with a fly to the warning track in right field that Tim Torres appeared to overrun. The ball fell safely for only a single, allowing Profar to score to make it 4-1. Jacobson struck out Strausborger before Mendonca gave Frisco a four-run lead with a sacrifice fly.

RoughRiders' reliever Carlos Pimentel made sure the lead held, retiring the Drillers in order in both the eighth and ninth innings.

Tulsa's lone run in the game scored in the top of the sixth inning. Trailing 1-0, three straight singles from Corey Dickerson, Cesario and Nolan Arenado loaded the bases to open the inning. Ben Paulsen plated Dickerson with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. The Drillers missed a chance to take the lead as Loux retired both Mike Zuanich and Lars Davis on strikes to end the threat.

Engel Beltre made a spectacular play to keep the Drillers off the scoreboard in the fifth. Beltre reached above the fence to take away a home run from Torres and keep Tulsa scoreless.

The win for Loux improved his season record to 14-1. He allowed six hits and the one run in his seven innings. The Texas A&M product did not walk a batter and struck out seven while lowering his ERA to 3.38.

Gardner also turned in a good start. He surrendered four hits and three runs, but only one earned, in his 5 1/3 innings. The loss dropped his record to 5-8.

Arenado accounted for half of the Drillers six hits in the game, going 3-4.

The Drillers are now 0-5 at in Frisco this season.

They will have one final chance to get a victory at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Friday's series finale. The pitching matchup will feature Brandon Hynick (4-2, 2.45 ERA) for Tulsa against Nicholas Tepesch (5-2, 3.93 ERA) of Frisco. Starting time is scheduled for 7:00PM.

Story courtesy of Drillers media relations.