Little Rock, AR -
Tulsa pounded out 13 hits, led by leadoff hitter Anthony Jackson who went 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored three times as the Drillers opened a road trip with an 8-1 win over Arkansas Tuesday night in Little Rock.
Jackson provided the Drillers with the go-ahead run in the top of the first when he led off the game with a double, moved to third on a strikeout by Charles Blackmon and scored on a balk.
The Travelers tied the game in the fourth when Charlton Jimerson's triple chased home Alexi Amarista. But, Jimerson was stranded at third when Efren Navarro popped out to end the inning.
Jackson gave Tulsa the lead for good in the fifth, lining a triple to right field to score Radames Nazario. He'd score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.
The Drillers would add two more in the sixth and one each in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, which was more than enough for Brandon Durden, who tossed eight strong innings, allowing one run on five hits.
Rex Brothers struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to shut the door.
With the win, Tulsa moved into a tie with Springfield for second place in the Texas League North Division standings. The Cardinals suffered a 5-2 loss to division leading Northwest Arkansas, which now holds a three-game pad in the division.
The Drillers and Travelers play game two of their series Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. in Little Rock.
