Drillers lose 2-0, Brandon McCarthy has a solid rehab start

Tulsa returned home but their bats did not respond to home cooking as they were shutout by Midland. The series resumes today with Tulsa ahead 2-1.

Player of the day

Josh Sborz made his first relief appearance of the season and pitched three scoreless innings to try and keep the Drillers in the game. Sborz did not allow hit and he walked three.

Double-A Tulsa

Tulsa could not get a key hit when they needed one as they were shutout 2-0 by the Midland RockHounds (Athletics) in Game 3 of the Texas League Championship Series.

Tulsa still has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series but they have to be disappointed that they could not take advantage of two great opportunities to score.

Twice they had the bases-loaded and one out and twice the same pair of batters, Peter O’Brien and Garrett Kennedy failed to produce a run. Those were the best chances for the Drillers as they went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Brandon McCarthy made his final rehab start of the season and he did well. McCarthy gave up two runs and five hits in six innings pitched. He did not walk anyone and he struck out two.

Josh Sborz pitched three scoreless innings to finish up the game for the Drillers, this was Sborz’s first relief appearance in 2017.

Game 4 is scheduled to have Yadier Alvarez for the Drillers against the Dodgers No. 1 draft pick in 2014, right-hander Grant Holmes. A year ago, Alvarez started the championship clinching game for the Great Lakes Loons.

Rookie Pioneer - Ogden

The teams had their travel day on Friday and the series will resume today at Great Falls.

Transactions

Double-A: Los Angeles sent right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy on a rehab assignment to Tulsa.

Friday box score

Game 3: Midland 2, Tulsa 0 (Tulsa leads 2-1)

Saturday schedule

5:05 p.m. PT: Game 4 - Tulsa (Yadier Alvarez) vs. Midland (Grant Holmes)

6:00 p.m.: Game 2 - Ogden (Osiris Ramirez) at Great Falls (Lincoln Henzman)