Drillers Win Streak Ends with Last Night's Loss
Published on May 2, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Through the first month of the 2012 season, the Tulsa Drillers pitching staff has been able to make do without much offensive support. That was not the case Tuesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas. A rare blown lead by the Drillers bullpen led to Tulsa's seventh loss of the season. A late rally in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Travelers spoiled a great outing by Tulsa starter Nick Schmidt who lowered his season ERA to 3.95 with five and two third innings without allowing a run and striking out five.
Arkansas snatched the victory out of the Drillers hands after Mike Marbry hit Jean Segura with an 0 and 2 pitch and two outs. Renny Osuna followed with a single to right field and Matt Long brought in Segura with a single of his own. After Long stole second base, Casey Haerther singled to plate the tying and go ahead runs. The throw home from Tim Torres appeared to have gunned down Long at the plate but the home plate umpire made a controversial safe call to give the Travs the lead. Marbry picked up his first loss and first blown save of the season.
The Drillers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Ben Paulsen led off with a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Orangel Arenas. After a Kent Matthes strikeout, designated hitter Kiel Roling grounded out to shortstop, moving Paulsen to third base. Mike Zuanich picked up where he left off on Monday and drove in Paulsen with an RBI single to centerfield. It was Zuanich's fourth RBI in his last two at bats after having zero RBIs through his first sixty-six plate appearances this season.
After Zuanich's single, the Drillers only managed to scatter three hits in the next seven innings. They scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth thanks to a throwing error by Osuna that plated Roling. The DH accounted for one of those Tulsa hits when he doubled earlier in the inning.
Joey Williamson threw an inning and a third in relief between Schmidt and Marbry and lowered his ERA to 0.82 for the season. He was able to strikeout Haerther with runners on in the bottom of the sixth to end a Travs threat. He then pitched a perfect 1-2-3 seventh inning.
The Drillers offense will try to break out on Wednesday morning as they play game two of the series in Arkansas. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00AM and will feature starters Joe Gardner (1-0, 3.32 ERA) and Greg Smith (2-1, 3.91 ERA).
NOTES: The Drillers record in 1 run games this season dropped to 9 - 2....Arkansas reliever Eddie McKiernan picked up the win to move his record to 2-0....Another errorless game for Tulsa keeps the team fielding percentage as the best in all of minor league baseball
Texas League Stories from May 2, 2012
- Drillers Win See Saw Wednesday Affair - Arkansas Travelers
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- Grimm Wins Fifth Game, 'Riders Sneak By San Antonio 2-1 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Frisco Tops San Antonio 2-1 - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Win Streak Ends with Last Night's Loss - Tulsa Drillers
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