(Photo Credit: Tulsa Drillers)
Just three days after earning a promotion to Tulsa from Rancho Cucamonga, right-handed starter Trevor Oaks earned the victory in his Double-A debut while helping lead the Drillers to a 2-1 victory over Arkansas in an early game on Wednesday.
Tulsa second baseman Brandon Trinkwon drove home catcher Tyler Ogle with a single to right field for the game’s first run in the bottom of the third inning. Later in the fourth frame, left fielder Jacob Scavuzzo hit a mammoth solo home run to deep left which would prove to be a critical insurance run.
Oaks scattered six hits and didn’t allow a walk in six full innings of work. He struck out four batters, and surrendered the only Travelers’ run of the day when shortstop Sherman Johnson drove in center fielder Bo Way with a single in the top of the fifth inning.
Oaks was 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.160 WHIP over four starts this season for the Quakes before being promoted to Tulsa. In what was perhaps the best game of his career on April 17 against Lake Elsinore, he completed eight full innings of work, scattering only five hits with no walks while allowing just one earned run. He struck out 10 Storm batters, a career high, and at one point retired 17 consecutive opposing hitters.
TBPC had the pleasure of interviewing Oaks and composing a profile on Tuesday.
Drillers’ reliever Grant Dayton worked hitless innings in the seventh and eighth, while Rob Rogers survived a two-hit scare in the ninth to record his first save of the year.
The Drillers have now won three of four games, and will conclude the four-game set against Arkansas on Thursday night at ONEOK Field. Righty starter Scott Barlow will take the hill for Tulsa. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
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Meanwhile, in Single-A news, 25-year old Cuban righty Yaisel Sierra will make his first official start on American soil on Saturday evening as the Quakes play host to the High Desert Mavericks.
Sierra signed a six-year, $30 million deal with the Dodgers in February while being one of the top available international prospects on the market. Prior to joining the Quakes, he was being held back in extended spring training in Glendale for expanded development.
Sierra pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012). During that span, he went 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games which included 25 starts. In his 2013 season with Holguin, Sierra posted a 3.92 ERA with a 7.0 K/9 in 101 innings, despite recording a 5.7 BB/9.
Sierra took the Quakes’ roster opening resulting from the Oaks promotion.
TBPC profiled Sierra back in late February.