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Drillers Win Late Inning Thriller

August 20, 2012 - Texas League (TL) Tulsa Drillers

The Drillers came into Monday night's matchup with the Midland RockHounds looking to salvage a series win in west Texas after dropping their first four games of their road trip. Tulsa was able to score 3 runs in their last at-bat to pick up the 6-5 victory and avoid dropping to .500 for the season.

The RockHounds hopped out to an early lead in the bottom half of the first. Three of the first four hitters delivered singles, the last of which by Miles Head brought in Conner Crumbliss for the game's first run.

The score remained 1-0 until Tulsa got on the board in the third. Corey Dickerson drew a one-out walk and then advanced on a single by Jimmy Cesario. After Dickerson picked up his 6th stolen base with the Drillers by taking third, Nolan Arenado brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back two-out singles from Kiel Roling and Angelys Nina gave the Drillers the lead 2-1.

Tulsa was able to extend their lead in the top half of the sixth thanks to a pair of extra-base hits. Tim Torres initiated the rally with a one-out double and then came in to score on Dickerson's double two batters later.

The two run advantage for Tulsa lasted only until Midland's next half inning. Four hits, all singles in the bottom of the sixth led to a pair of RockHound runs to tie the score at 3 apiece. Crumbliss, Anthony Aliotti, Head, and David Freitas all produced base-hits in the inning.

Midland reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the eighth off of reliever Zach Simons. Crumbliss again led the attack for the Hounds, tripling to center field to lead off the inning. In the very next at-bat, Tyler Ladendorf drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to give Midland the 4-3 lead.

After the first batter was retired in the Driller's ninth inning, Tulsa rattled off three straight clutch hits. Cesario and Arenado both singled, and Roling brought them both home with a double to take the lead 5-4. Mike Mitchell registered a double of his own two batters later to give Tulsa an insurance run that turned out to be ever important.

Josh Sullivan came in to close the game in the ninth for Tulsa but had a rough time from the onset of the inning. Freitas singled and Josh Horton drew a walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with nobody out. Eliezer Mesa advanced the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Dustin Coleman cut the deficit to 1 with a sac fly. Sullivan hunkered down and struck out Crumbliss for the final out to preserve the victory.

Josh Outman started for Tulsa and threw very well for the second straight outing. The left hander threw 6.2 innings while allowing 9 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts.

Joe Torres recorded only one out in the ballgame but it was enough to earn his 3rd win of the season.

The Drillers will travel home to ONEOK Field to begin a 4 game series with the Arkansas Travelers on Tuesday night. Joe Gardner (5-8, 4.42 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa against Mike Piazza (5-4, 2.96 ERA) for the Travs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.

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Texas League Stories from August 20, 2012


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