Tulsa Stages Comeback of Its Own
Published on June 7, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
In the opening game of their 8-game homestand, the Tulsa Drillers were unable to hold an early five-run lead and suffered a disappointing loss. In game two Thursday night, Tulsa staged a comeback of its own. After spotting Springfield a three-run lead in the first inning, the Drillers scored the game's final five runs to rally for a 6-5 win at ONEOK Field.
The Cards wasted little time taking their early lead. Tulsa starting pitcher Nick Schmidt walked Kolten Wong, the game's leadoff hitter and allowed a base hit to Jermaine Curtis. Schmidt then hit the dangerous Oscar Taveras with a pitch to load the bases. Kyle Conley brought all three runners home with a double to left field.
The Drillers got on the scoreboard in the second when Lars Davis walked and scored, but the Redbirds got the run back in the fourth as Jake Shaffer hit his fourth home run of the season.
Angelys Nina collected three hits in Tulsa's come-from-behind win over Springfield Thursday night at ONEOK Field. (Rich Crimi)
Tulsa erased its three-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning. Mike Mitchell led off with a base hit and scored on Josh Rutledge's one-out triple. Angelys Nina singled home Rutledge, then moved to third on a double by Nolan Arenado. Ben Paulsen accounted for the inning's third run with a RBI ground out that scored Nina to even the score at 4-4.
The Drillers completed their comeback in the bottom of the fifth. They loaded the bases when the first three batters of the inning reached safely as Kent Matthes walked and Davis and Mitchell singled. After Kiel Roling and Rutledge both struck out, the bases were still full with two outs, but Nina struck again to salvage the inning. The second baseman hit a bouncer just inside the third base bag that scored Matthes and Davis to give Tulsa a 6-4 lead.
From there, Schmidt turned things over to the bullpen. Cory Riordan worked two shutout frames, and Mike Marbry pitched a scoreless eighth. Coty Woods retired the Cardinals in order in the ninth to close out the victory and record his ninth save of the season.
It was almost a night of missed opportunities for the Drillers. After scoring their second-inning run, they had runners at second and third with only one out and could not plate another run. In the third, they loaded the bases with no outs and failed to score a run.
The Cardinals missed a scoring chance of their own in the top of the seventh. Wong led off the inning with a single and Curtis doubled to put runners at second and third with no outs, but Riordan was able to work out of the jam. He got a pair of pop ups and a ground out to keep the Drillers two-run lead intact.
Tulsa totaled 12 hits in the game with a trio of players doing most of the damage. Nina, Arenado and Mitchell collected three hits each.
Schmidt settled down after the tough first inning and was able to collect the win and even his record at 3-3. The lefthander allowed five hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out five.
Tulsa and Springfield will play game three of their four-game series Friday night. Joe Gardner (3-2, 4.59 ERA) will pitch for the Drillers against Trevor Rosenthal (4-5, 2.90 ERA) of the Cardinals. Starting time is scheduled for 7:05PM with a Fireworks Show scheduled for after the game.
Texas League Stories from June 7, 2012
- Prades Delivers Walk-Off Winner - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- 'Riders Shutout Missions, Loux Wins 11th Game - Frisco RoughRiders
- Tulsa Stages Comeback of Its Own - Tulsa Drillers
- Roughriders win five-hit shutout of San Antonio - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Fall to Tulsa 6-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Game Notes, June 7 vs. Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Duncan Dinger Does in Travs - Arkansas Travelers
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