Kyle Garlick hits his second home run in the series, Drillers win 16-8 to tie series 2-2

Tulsa won to advance to Game 5, Rancho Cucamonga lost and their season ended and Ogden lost their last regular season game. Ogden starts their playoff series against Orem today.

Player of the day

Kyle Garlick hit his second home run in this series, this time his two-run homer broke a 4-4 tie. Garlick would score four runs as he went 4-for-6 in Tulsa’s big win.

Double-A - Tulsa

The Drillers trailed early but would have two six-run innings in their 16-8 win over the NW Arkansas Naturals (Royals). The win tied the series a two games apiece with Game 5 to be played today at Tulsa. The winner of Game 5 will go on to play in the Texas League Championship Series.

Trailing 4-2 going to the bottom of the fifth, the Drillers scored six runs, two of them scoring on Kyle Garlick’s home run that broke the 4-4 tie. Leading 8-4, the Naturals scored four runs to tie the game in the top of the sixth.

The Drillers would take the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth on Blake Gailen’s two-run double. The Drillers second six-run inning in the eighth put the game away.

Seven Driller pitchers took the mound, the last four kept the Naturals off the scoreboard. Karch Kowalczyk would get the win.

Class-A - Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes saw the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) put up ten runs in the seventh inning and that would be more than enough to win the game 12-7 on Saturday night. That win meant the JetHawks won the series three games to one and they will move on to the California League Championship Series.

The Quakes took a 4-0 lead in the third inning on a Zach McKinstry home run, Luke Raley’s run-scoring single and a two-run double by DJ Peters.

Dustin May started for the Quakes and he was doing very well, giving up one run and two hits while striking out six in the first four innings. However, after giving up a leadoff double in the fifth inning, May left the game with an unidentified injury.

The Quakes got out of that inning with just one run allowed and after Dodger left-hander Scott Kazmir pitched a scoreless sixth inning, the Quakes scored three runs to make it 7-2.

That was last lead the Quakes would have in 2017 as the JetHawks sent 14 batters up in the seventh inning and they scored the previously mentioned ten runs. One note about that inning, they did that without hitting a home run, which is impressive.

The Quakes could not muster any comeback and the JetHawks retired the last five Quakes hitters in a row to end the game and the Quakes season.

Rookie Pioneer - Ogden

The Raptors lost 17-8 to the Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals) in the last game of their regular season. The Raptors will start their playoff series against Orem Owlz today at home.

The Raptors trailed 6-2 after 3½ innings and then they scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a one-run lead. But that was short-lived as the Chukars scored five runs in the top of the fifth and from their the Chukars never looked back.

Cristian Gomez hit his first home run as a Raptor.

Transactions

Triple-A: Los Angeles recalled catcher Kyle Farmer from Oklahoma City.

Class-A: Los Angeles sent left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir on a rehab assignment to Rancho Cucamonga; Rancho Cucamonga activated right-handed pitcher Andrew Thurman from the 7-day disabled list and placed right-handed pitcher Adam Bray on the 7-day disabled list.

Saturday’s scores

Tulsa 16 , NW Arkansas 8 (Series tied 2-2)

Lancaster 12, Rancho Cucamonga 7 (Lancaster wins series 3-1)

Idaho Falls 17, Ogden 8

Sunday’s schedule

3:00 p.m. PT: Ogden (Osiris Ramirez) at Orem (TBD)

4:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Dennis Santana) vs. NW Arkansas (Corey Ray)