Drillers Rally Falls Short
July 25, 2008 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Friday night, in the opening game of a 7-game homestand, the Tulsa Drillers spotted the Arkansas Travelers a four-run lead before staging a late comeback. The attempt fell one run short as the Travelers were able to hang on for a 5-4 victory at Drillers Stadium.
Tulsa actually opened the game's scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Dexter Fowler hit his 26th double of the season before advancing to third on a balk. Travs starter Anthony Ortega committed the balk and then gave up an RBI single to Matt Miller, giving the Drillers the lead. The RBI was Miller's league leading 86th run batted in.
Arkansas took the lead in the fourth. After a Nate Sutton walk, Flint Wipke hit his first Double A homer over the center field wall, giving the visitors a 2-1 edge.
The Travs added one more run in the sixth. Brian Stavisky singled to center. Corey Smith doubled down the left field line, and Nate Sutton walked to load the bases. Tulsa summoned reliever Eduardo Valdez to replace Tomas Santiago. Wil Ortiz smashed a hard hit grounder to Corey Wimberly which he could not come up with, plating Stavisky. Valdez was able to work out of the jam to keep the Arkansas lead at 3-1.
Arkansas team added two more runs in the eighth. Sutton walked, Ortiz singled on a hit and run that sent Sutton to third. Ryan Leahy followed with a single, pushing the lead to 4-1. Chris Pettit was walked with the bases loaded by Tulsa reliever Casey Weathers adding to the Travs lead, 5-1.
Tulsa's comeback attempt came in the eighth inning as Eduardo Cornejo singled in Daniel Carte to cut the lead to 5-2. Rick Guarno followed with an RBI single of his own that plated Wimberly, who had doubled. Fowler bunted in Cornejo to bring the Drillers to within one run at 5-4.
Tulsa put the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth, but Travs' relieve Rafael Rodriguez retired Cornejo on a ground out to end the threat and the game.
Starter Anthony Ortega went seven innings for Arkansas. He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out four to gain win number nine.
Eric Young Jr. singled in four at-bats to extend his hitting streak to ten straight games.
Wimberly was the only Tulsa player with more than one hit, finishing 2-3.
Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for Saturday evening at Drillers Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm as Tulsa sends Colorado Rockies lefthander Jeff Francis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound in his second rehab start. He will be opposed by Fernando Rodriguez (5-8, 6.80 ERA) for the Travs.
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Texas League Stories from July 25, 2008
- Mazzaro Masterful Again - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards Fall From First - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Rally Falls Short - Tulsa Drillers
- Kaaihue's Small Ball Gives Naturals Big Lift - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Series Preview: Cards, Naturals Meet Again Tied Up - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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