The Tulsa Drillers recently began the new minor league baseball season, playing the San Antonio Missions on Thursday. In the first game since the Drillers changed to the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate, the new team beat the Missions 10–4.
After a strong first inning by starter Chris Anderson, Brandon Dixon sparked the offense with a two-run double, scoring the Dodgers’ top prospect Corey Seager and former Boston first baseman Lars Anderson.
The Missions answered in the next half-inning, however, as left fielder Yeison Asencio hit a big two-run home run to left to tie the game. That would be Anderson’s only mishap, as he finished his five-inning outing without allowing another run.
The Missions weren’t so lucky in their starter. After giving up a home run of his own to catcher Ali Solis in the bottom of the second, pitcher Justin Hancock followed with five walks and two wild pitches before he was pulled after three innings, giving up four runs on the night.
Tulsa had a constant stream of offense throughout the game, as Solis and Seager each had an RBI double. Three runs on sacrifice outs rounded out the ten-run showing. Seager led the offense with three RBIs, while Solis and Dixon each had a pair.
Asencio and third baseman Casey McElroy were the only two players with offensive success, each with a pair of RBIs. McElroy had a two-run shot in the eighth, off of reliever Chin-hui Tsao.
After finishing their series with San Antonio and the Corpus Christi Hooks on Tuesday, the Drillers take their first road trip April 16–22. Afterwards, the Drillers will be back in town, hosting the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on the last weekend of April.
