With the calendar turning to 2013, it won't be long until baseball's Spring Training is underway. With that in mind, let's start turning our attention toward the Tulsa Drillers and what will be awaiting fans at ONEOK Field this season.
In this and upcoming articles, I'll be breaking down the Drillers schedule month-by-month. In this installment, we'll look at the May portion of the 2013 slate.
Tulsa opens the month of May with seven straight road games (three at Arkansas followed by four at Springfield). The Drillers return to ONEOK Field on Wednesday, May 8, and will open a series against Arkansas with a 4:05 p.m. game. The four-game series against the Travelers will actually spread over five days as the two teams will take a break on Friday, May 10, to allow Bedlam baseball to return to ONEOK Field as the Oklahoma Sooners do battle with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The Drillers will continue the homestand with a four-game set against Springfield followed by a bit of a scheduling oddity. Northwest Arkansas will come to Tulsa for one game (Friday, May 17) before the Drillers and Naturals resume their four-game series in Springdale.
Tulsa returns to facing South Division foes on May 22 when they open a six-game homestand against Midland and Frisco (including a Memorial Day matinee against the RoughRiders).
Tulsa closes the month on the road with return dates against Midland and Frisco.
Some games of note in May
Wednesday, May 8 ... Weekday Day Game (4:05 p.m.)
Wednesday, May 15 ... Weekday Day Game (11:05 a.m.)
Friday, May 17 ... Fireworks Friday
Friday, May 24 ... Fireworks Friday
Monday, May 27 … Memorial Day Day Game (1:05 p.m.)
Scheduling notes
Overall, the Texas League will again play a 140-game split season, with the first half concluding on June 19.
Tulsa will play a total of 70 home games with 41 of games occurring on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The Drillers will play 14 home games during the month of April, 15 in May, 11 in June, 17 in July, and 13 in August.
The normal starting time for evening games at ONEOK Field will remain at 7:05 p.m. Sunday home games in April, May, and June (with the exception of May 26) will begin at 2:05 p.m., while Sunday games the remainder of the year will have the standard start time of 7:05 p.m.
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