Drillers Fall In 16 Innings
August 2, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers fell to the Arkansas Travelers 5-4 in a 16 inning game Sunday night at Drillers Stadium that took 4 hours and 35 minutes to complete. The Drillers were a perfect 53-0 when leading entering the final inning this season, but the Travelers scored in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 4-4. It remained tied until the Travs scored a run in the top of the 16th inning with Tulsa infielder Rex Rundgren pitching.
Drillers' closer Andrew Johnston entered the game in the top of the ninth, but he found himself in trouble after allowing two hits and an intentional walk that loaded the bases with one out. Pinch hitter Hank Conger's sacrifice fly to centerfield tied the game at 4-4. It was only Johnston's second blown save all season in 29 opportunities.
Andy Graham relieved Johnston after the ninth inning and worked five scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and striking out three.
Graham was replaced by Rundgren in the top of the 15th. The starting second baseman threw a scoreless inning while allowing two hits.
In the 16th, with Rundgren still pitching, Chris Gutierrez drew a lead off walk and moved to third on Hank Conger's single. Wil Ortiz's sacrifice fly scored Gutierrez for the go-ahead run.
The Drillers attempted a rally in the bottom of the 16th. With one out, Brad Corley hit a deep drive to left-center that centerfielder Peter Bourjos leaped to catch before crashing into the wall. After the sensational catch, the next three Drillers reached base to load the bases with two outs. Jeff Kindel followed with another drive into the gap in left center, but Bourjos ended the game with another leaping grab against the wall.
Just as they did in the first two games of this series, the Travelers scored in the first inning. Bourjos drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, and then scored on a double by Coby Smith. Nate Sutton followed with a double that put runners on second and third with no outs. A single by Mark Trumbo scored both runners and gave Arkansas a 3-0 lead.
Ryan Harvey's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning plated the Drillers first run.
Tulsa added another run in the sixth to cut the Travs lead to 3-2 when Rex Rundgren tripled and then scored on a double by Darin Holcomb.
The Drillers finally took the lead against the Travelers in the bottom of the seventh inning. Michael Paulk singled before Cole Garner drove a home run high over the left field netting to give Tulsa a 4-3 lead.
Amalio Diaz (2-6) picked up the win by throwing five scoreless relief innings.
Rundgren (0-1) took the loss, giving up one run on four hits in two innings of work. It was only the infielder's third appearance on the mound in a professional game. He pitched one relief inning for Double A Carolina in 2006 and another in 2007.
Tulsa starter Samuel Deduno settled down after the tough first inning, blanking the Travs over the next six frames.
Rundgren, Holcomb and Danny Sandoval led the Drillers with three hits apiece.
The Drillers will try to avoid a sweep as they complete their four-game series with the Travelers on Monday night. Brandon Durden (4-2, 3.31 ERA) will start for Tulsa against Arkansas' Trevor Reckling (7-3, 2.67 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM at Drillers Stadium.
NOTES: The two-run home run by Garner in the seventh inning gave Tulsa its first lead against the Travelers in 33 1/2 innings. . . . The 16-inning game matched the Drillers longest game in the past eight seasons. It was their longest game since playing 18 innings in a 4-2 win at Shreveport on July 3, 2001.
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