The Tulsa Drillers will begin the final month of the 2011 regular season with an important 7-game homestand against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals) and the Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals). All three teams are battling for the second and final playoff spot from the North Division and the chance to meet Arkansas in the first round of the Texas League playoffs.

The Drillers will host the Naturals in a three-game set, followed by a four-game series with the Cardinals. Every game in the homestand is scheduled to begin at 7:05PM at ONEOK Field.

The seven games will be include a Friday Night Fireworks promotion on August 5. Kids, ages 14 and under, will receive Back-to-School Backpacks on August 6 and matching Lunch Bags on August 7.

Other promotions will include a $2 Tuesday for the opener on August 2, Rivalry Night/Thirsty Thursday on August 4 and $1 Dog Monday Night for the finale on August 8. A complete list of promotions with descriptions is below. Tickets for all of the games are now on sale at the ONEOK Field Ticket Office at 201 N. Elgin Ave. and at TulsaDrillers.com.Tickets are also available by calling the Ticket Office at (918)744-5901.

Keeping It Close:During the first 100 games of the season, the Drillers played 59 games that were decided by three runs or less. They compiled a 32-27 record in those games.

Rosario Leading:Wilin Rosario leads all regular Texas League catchers with a .993 fielding percentage. He is second to Salvador Perez of Northwest Arkansas in throwing out attempted base stealers, nailing 35% of runners.

Even Up:Tulsa is 4-4 against both Northwest Arkansas and Springfield in games played at ONEOK Field this season.

Chasing History:Tim Wheeler is on an offensive pace that could allow him to finish in the Top 10 for Drillers season totals in home runs, triples, runs scored and runs batted in. The records date back to 1977, the first season for the Drillers franchise.

TULSA DRILLERS SCHEDULE & PROMOTIONS (August 2-8)

Tuesday, August 2. . . NW Arkansas Naturals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
$2 TUESDAY
The ultimate night of discounts returns to ONEOK Field with $2 Tuesday presented by Pepsi, Warehouse Market, Mix 96 and 2 News Works For You. General Admission tickets on the outfield lawn are only $2.00 each, while all other tickets are discounted $3.00 off normal prices. In addition, hot dogs, Mazzio’s Pizza slices, 21 ounce Pepsi fountain drinks, jumbo soft pretzels and souvenir programs will be on sale for only $2.00 each.
KRAFT SINGLES TUESDAY NIGHT TICKETS
Buy one, get one FREE from Kraft Singles! Fans presenting an outer wrapper from a package of Kraft Singles can purchase two regular priced tickets for the price of one! Only one ticket discount can be used when purchasing tickets.

Wednesday, August 3. . . NW Arkansas Naturals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
REMEMBER “WHENSDAY” 70’s NIGHT
92.9 BOB FM takes you back to the decade of sideburns, bell-bottomed pants and platform shoes. There will 1970’s trivia throughout the game with great prizes up for grabs and plenty of disco music!

Thursday, August 4. . . NW Arkansas Naturals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
THIRSTY THURSDAY / RIVALRY NIGHT
Football season is just around the corner and we will help to get you ready with Rivalry Night presented by Chris Nikel Fiat, Urban Tulsa Weekly and The Buzz Networks. Fans are encouraged to wear the colors of their favorite schools. Marcus Dupree, Jamelle Holieway and Kenyatta Wright will be among the former Sooners and Cowboys in attendance to sign autographs and meet fans. It is also a Thirsty Thursday with 12 ounce servings of Bud and Bud Light and 21 ounce servings of Pepsi products on sale for only $1 each.

Friday, August 5. . . Springfield Cardinals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS
There is no better way to spend a summer evening than watching a spectacular Fireworks Show at ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa! The skies will light up after the game courtesy of 97.5 KMOD.
FRITOS® FAMILY NIGHT
It is also FRITOS® Family Night with six lucky families being chosen to participate in a number of behind-the-scenes activities at the ballpark. Fans can also present a FRITOS® Corn Chips sack at Black Gold Outfitters to receive 10% of their purchases.

Saturday, August 6. . . Springfield Cardinals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
GRAND SLAM SATURDAY / DRILLERS BACKPACKS / LIBRARY READING NIGHT
PSO and NewsChannel 8 present another great Grand Slam Saturday with the first 1,000 young fans, ages 14 and under, receiving a Drillers back-to-school backpack. This special giveaway will be available at the Arvest and Oil Derrick Entrances only! In addition, students completing the Library Reading Program can get a free general admission ticket from their local Tulsa City-County Library.

Sunday, August 7. . . Springfield Cardinals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
FAMILY FUNDAY SUNDAY / DRILLERS LUNCH BAGS / BEAT THE HEAT SPLASH ZONE / KIDS EAT FREE
It’s Family FunDay Sunday and the first 1,000 kids, ages 12 and under, will receive a Drillers Lunch Bag compliments of the University of Phoenix, 2 News Works For You and K95.5FM. The lunch bags are combos of the backpacks and can be easily attached for convenient trips to school. This special giveaway will be available at the Arvest and Oil Derrick Entrances only!
Young fans are encouraged to wear their bathing suits and “beat the heat” under our giant, FREE waterspout courtesy of EMSA and the Tulsa Fire Department.
The first 500 kids, ages 12 and under, will receive a voucher that is redeemable for a free hot dog, milk, and an ice cream dessert at the concession stands courtesy of Borden Dairy, K95.5FM and 2 News Works For You.
Lastly, from 6:15-6:30PM, a pair of Drillers players will be in Black Gold Outfitters signing autographs for all fans. After the game, all kids will be allowed on the field to run the bases.

Monday, August 8. . . Springfield Cardinals (7:05PM) – Gates Open at 6:00PM
$1 DOG MONDAY NIGHT
It is the homestand finale and another $1 Dog Monday with dog owners encouraged to bring their best friends to the park to enjoy an evening of relaxation together courtesy of Southern Agriculture and 94.1, The Sound. In addition, the famous “Driller Dog” hot dogs will be on sale all evening long for only $1 each! All dogs are admitted FREE, but their owners must present proof of up-to-date vaccinations. Fans with dogs should enter the park through either the Oil Derrick Entrance or the Arvest (Brady Street) Entrance.