Hector Gomez was the hero Sunday afternoon at ONEOK Field, in a dramatic victory over San Antonio. Gomez belted a 3-run, walk off home run to cap a wild, four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning that produced a 7-5 victory over the Missions.
Trailing 5-3 entering the ninth, the rally began with a one-out double by Warren Schaffer. The Drillers then caught a break when pinch-hitter James Cesario struck out, but the pitch was in the dirt and skipped by catcher Kyle Phillips, allowing Cesario to reach first and Schaeffer to advance to third.
Tim Wheeler followed with a ground ball single that plated Schaeffer to cut the lead to a single run and set the stage for Gomez. The shortstop worked a 1-1 count against Brad Brach before belting his drive that cleared the fence in left-center field. Cesario and Wheeler scored in front of Gomez who was mobbed by his teammates at home plate. The dramatic win improved Tulsa's record to 3-1 on the young season.
Tulsa had jumped out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Scott Beerer singled and swiped second base. After a walk to Bronson Sardinha, Schaeffer plated Beerer with a base hit. It was the first time this season that Tulsa has scored the first run of a game.
The lead would hold until the Missions produced a big five-run sixth inning. Jaff Decker drew a leadoff walk to start the rally, and James Darnell followed with a single. After Tulsa starter Rob Scahill retired Kyle Phillips on a fly ball, Steve Decker singled to load the bases.
Drillers' manager Duane Espy called on reliever Sean Jarrett to replace Scahill, and he retired Vincent Belnome, but the second baseman's fly ball to left field was deep enough to score Decker and even the score at 1-1. Anthony Contreras then broke the tie with a two-run double that put the Missions in front. Henryetta native Sawyer Carroll did further damage when he followed with a pinch-hit two run homer that made it 5-1.
It appeared the homer would cap a Missions victory, but the Drillers slowly started to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth as Darin Holcomb singled and scored on a double by Beerer.
They pulled even closer in the eighth on Ben Paulsen's second home run of the season. The solo shot trimmed the Missions lead to 5-3 and set the stage for Gomez in the final inning.
The rally gave reliever Stephen Dodson his first Double A win. The right-hander worked the final two innings, retiring all six batters he faced.
The Drillers out-hit the Missions 10-8. It is the first time this season that they have out-hit their opponent in a game.
Tulsa will not have long to celebrate the victory as the second game of its series with the Missions is slated for Monday morning at ONEOK Field. First pitch is scheduled for 10:05AM with Josh Sullivan making his first start on the mound for the Drillers, while San Antonio will counter with Matt Buschmann.
