Tulsa Drillers look to extend record-setting season in playoffs

The Tulsa Drillers are returning home for a must-win playoff game Thursday after falling to the Springfield Cardinals 9-7 on a walk-off home run Tuesday night.

The Drillers will host the Cardinals at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at OneOK Field. Gates open at 6 p.m.

If Tulsa wins Thursday, the teams will play a winner-take-all game Friday night.

“It’s a little bit more serious, and we try to make sure we’re having a good time still and hyping up the crowd for it,” said Brianna Harris, the Drillers’ senior manager of marketing and promotions. “But we’re definitely focused on the baseball at that point, which is what I love.”

Thursday’s game will feature $3 specials and discounted tickets. Tickets are $6 for the lawn and terrace seating and $9.18 for seats in the seating bowl.

If the series reaches Friday, the Drillers will host a Friday night fireworks show after the game.

The Drillers finished the regular season with 88 wins, the most for a Tulsa professional baseball team since 1968.

Harris said the team showed signs throughout the season that it could accomplish something special.

“We never like to say we know it’s coming, but this team is something special,” Harris said.

Tulsa also saw several individual accomplishments during the season.

Jake Gelof broke the team’s home run record, finishing the regular season with 34 home runs.

Harris said the achievement was especially memorable because Gelof reached the mark during the final regular-season game.

The Drillers also saw Josue De Paula called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers from Double-A, which Harris said was the first time that had happened for a Dodgers player in quite some time.

The Drillers’ alternate identity, the Ranch Dippers, also received a postseason honor.

The Ranch Dippers were nominated for best alternate identity, with fan voting opening Wednesday and continuing through Sept. 22.

The team leaned heavily into the ranch theme throughout the season, including a ranch-themed dunk tank, eating contests and the Ranch Dippers’ mascot, Mr. Pepper Tony.

Harris said the organization is honored to be part of the fan vote.

Tess Maune, born and raised in El Reno, Oklahoma, joined News On 6 in March 2012. She’s an anchor and reporter for 6 in the Morning and is also the News On 6’s outdoor and wildlife reporter.

Brooke Cox is a Digital Producer at News On 6, producing content for the station’s website and digital platforms and managing the News On 6 Weather YouTube channel.