Soddies by Morning: A Bad Ninth Inning Sours the Soddies Series Opener
The Sod Poodles came back home hot, riding their longest winning streak of the year at three games, taking their second straight series against Midland.
Kristian Robinson wasted no time making himself back at home in Hodgetown. Robinson tanked a leadoff home run off of Drillers starter Carlos Campos. Robinson has been scalding hot since being moved to the leadoff spot, slashing .339/.455/.661/.1.116 in 18 games in that stretch. Gavin Conticello reached base on his eigth walk in four games in the month of May so far after only walking 12 times in all of April. LuJames Groover made his first appearance since May 2nd and immediately made an impact on his return to the lineup, cracking an RBI double to drive in Conticello, his seventh double of the season putting him one behind Jose Fernandez for the Texas League lead. Unfortunately for the Amarillo offense, that would be the last run Campos and the Drillers staff would allow in the series opener.
The Sod Poodles starters have been on a tear since the beginning of the Midland series and that didn’t chanage on Wednesday. Spencer Giesting who has been Amarillo’s most consistent pitcher all season tossed 5.1 innings allowing 2 runs (only 1 earned) on 4 hits, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. While it wasn’t his sharpest appearance and the walks are still present, Giesting once again gave the Soddies a chance to pick up another victory. The Drillers did a great job of making Giesting work for his outs with the best example coming in the third inning when despite only facing 3 batters, the drillers worked two eight pitch at bats before Giesting would ultimately put them awasy with strikeouts. Tulsa infielder Damon Keith drove in the only earned run off of the Amarillo southpaw when he singled in the sixth, Giesting would leave with a no decision on the night.
The bullpen did not have the same success against the Dodgers affilate, Gerardo Gutierrez relived Giesting and allowed the inherited runner to score after a Fernandez error, but wouldn’t allow an earned run of his own in his 1.2 innings of work and didn’t walk a batter. Zane Russell would allow three baserunners in his outing, giving up the lead in the eighth to make it 3-2 Tulsa.
Amarillo had a chance to do some damage after Tulsa reliever Christian Suarez walked three of the first four batters he faced to load the bases in the eighth before Christian Cerda grounded into a double play on the first pitch that he saw ending the threat and holding the score at 3-2 Drillers.
The game got away from Amarillo after that, as Conor Grammes struggled in his outing giving up 5 runs in just 0.2 innings pitched and allowed five baserunners including a Jose Ramos home run that off that bat looked like a fly ball, but wound up a Hodgetown special, riding the Amarillo breeze and elevation to carry it just out of right fielder Gavin Conticello’s reach. Zach Barnes would come in to get the final out before the Sod Poodles failed to score in their half of the ninth ending the game at 8-2 Drillers.
Jose Fernandez 8-Game hit streak was snapped last night although he did pick up his sixth walk of the season. Fernandez also made a great defensive play on a ball that just tipped off of Groover’s glove, Tulsa sent the runner home and the Sod Poodles utility man cut the him down with a great throw to Christian Cerda.
Groover would have the only multi-hit game for Amarillo after hitting an opposite field single to right field.
Amarillo will play a double header today starting at 4:30 PM with the second game 30 minutes after the first game ends. The Soddies will be sending reliever Cesar Gomez to the mound for the start in game one, Gomez will make only his second start of the season. In his first start in Reno Gomez tossed two scoreless frames for the Aces striking out two Albuquerque batters. The Drillers will send Jared Karros to the bump, Karros is the 30th ranked prospect for the Dodgers but has struggled to keep the ball in the yard (6 HR), trailing only Sod Poodles pitcher Roman Angelo and the Missions Victor Lizarraga who have given up 8 bombs in 2025. The aformentioned Angelo will pitch in game two of the double header hoping to continue trending up after going five scoreless against Midland last week. Angelo had trouble keeping the ball in the yard but has only given up one home run since his second start, allowing seven in the first two games. The Drillers will send Jerming Rosario to the mound in game two, unlike Karros Rosario has done a good job of keeping the ball in the yard, but has a walk problem that creates other problems for him. With the Sod Poodles patience at the top of the order (Robiinson, Troy, and Conticello) look for Amarillo to take advantage in game two.
