Late Rally Leads Drillers Past Missions
Published on April 13, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
April 13, 2008 - It was a case of better late than never for the Tulsa Drillers Sunday afternoon. Trailing 6-3 and limited to only four hits entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Drillers erupted for five runs on six hits to rally for an 8-6 win over the San Antonio Missions.
For the first seven innings Sunday, the Tulsa offense struggled on a cold and windy day. That changed when Justin Nelson and Daniel Carte begin the eighth with consecutive groundball singles to right field. After Jeff Dragicevich struck out and Neil Wilson grounded out, the Drillers produced four straight two-out hits.
With Nelson at third and Carte at second, pinch-hitter Matt Miller singled up the middle to pull Tulsa to within 6-5. Jeff Kindel followed with a base hit to left that sent Miller to third base. After Jon Ellis relieved Wilton Perez for the Missions, Eric Young Jr. hit a drive into the gap in right-center field. It not only scored Miller, but also Kindel from first base to put the Drillers in front. Another double by Corey Wimberly scored Young to make it 8-6.
Reliever Pedro Strop pitched the ninth to close out the victory. Strop walked Peter Ciofrone to begin the ninth, but he recovered to retire the next three hitters to record his second save of the season.
The go-ahead double by Young (pictured) in the eighth inning completed a big day for the Tulsa second baseman. He finished 1-2 with 2 walks, 3 runs scored, 2 runs batted in and 3 stolen bases. He was also a part of all three double plays the Tulsa defense turned.
The two teams were tied at 3-3 until San Antonio went ahead with a 3-run seventh inning off Jarrett Grube. A sacrifice fly by Kyle Blanks broke the tie and a two-run homer by Seth Johnston put the Missions three runs in front. Johnston's blow cleared the fence despite a 25 m.p.h. wind blowing in from left field.
It was a tough day for both starting pitchers. Tulsa starter Tomas Santiago allowed five hits, four walks and two runs in three innings. Missions' starter Stephen Faris gave up two runs in only two innings of work.
Jonathan George turned in a strong outing for the Drillers, allowing only one run in three innings of relief work.
Casey Weathers (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning.
The win improved the Drillers' record to 4-6 and kept them in first-place in the North Division standings of the Texas League. The two teams will play game two of their three-game series Monday night. Alan Johnson (0-0, 3.97 ERA) will pitch for the Drillers against Michael Ekstrom (0-1, 4.50 ERA) of the Missions. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM at Drillers Stadium.
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- Late Rally Leads Drillers Past Missions - Tulsa Drillers
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