9-Run First Rocks Drillers
Published on July 31, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Statistically, the Arkansas Travelers entered Friday night's meeting with Tulsa as the lowest scoring team in the Texas League. There were probably few in the large crowd of 8,217 at Drillers Stadium that would believe that fact. They watched the Travs erupt for ten hits and nine runs in the top of the first inning in defeating the Drillers 12-4.
Left fielder Coby Smith played a key role in the early uprising by accomplishing the rare feat of hitting two homers in the same inning. Smith had a pair of two-run home runs to account for four of the nine runs. The round-trippers were only his fourth and fifth home runs of the season.
The Drillers could not keep pace with the Travelers, but Tulsa's Ryan Harvey did his part to try and match Smith's feat. Harvey belted a two-run homer in the second inning and another two-run blast in the fifth that easily cleared the netting above the left field wall.
Tulsa's starting pitcher Keith Weiser was the victim of Arkansas' big first inning that began with a single by Peter Bourjos and Smith's first two-run home run.
Following the homer, Nate Sutton singled and scored on a double by Hank Conger. Val Majewski was hit by a pitch and Val Gutierrez singled to load the bases. A double by Hainley Statia cleared the bases and made the score 6-0.
Still in the first, Bourjos' single plated Statia and Smith followed with his second two-run homer of the inning.
Sutton and Mark Trumbo would follow with singles, but Conger grounded out to finally end the inning.
The Travs scored a single run in the top of the second made it 10-0, but Harvey's two-run home run in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to 10-2.
Arkansas added another run in the third before Harvey struck again in the fifth inning. His second two-run shot in the fifth made it an 11-4 game.
The Travs added a final run in the ninth to complete the scoring.
Arkansas starter Tim Kiely worked seven innings to gain the win and improve his record to 3-1.
With the loss, Weiser's record dropped to 7-10.
The Drillers will look to rebound as they continue their series with the Travelers on Saturday night. Kurt Birkins (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will make his second start for Tulsa, while Arkansas will send Marco Albano (1-5, 4.04 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM at Drillers Stadium and will be followed by a Fireworks show.
NOTES: Despite the loss, there was some good news for Tulsa Friday night because Springfield defeated Northwest Arkansas to keep the Drillers only one game behind the first place Naturals. . . .Daniel Carte replaced designated hitter Michael Paulk in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carte was activated on July 30th and had been on the DL since June 15th with a stress fracture in his right foot. . . .The Travs 9-run first was the biggest inning that Tulsa has surrendered since Springfield scored 10 times in the second inning of their 20-5 win over the Drillers on April 17, 2008.
Texas League Stories from July 31, 2009
- Cards Rally for 5-3 Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Former Hook Stymies Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Defensive Miscues Cost Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Run Away From Tulsa Early - Arkansas Travelers
- 9-Run First Rocks Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Series Preview: Struggling Cards depleted by recent moves - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Lots of promotions set stage for Naturals homestand - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Traveler Baseball Weekly Notebook - Arkansas Travelers
- Wipke to Salt Lake, Anton Placed on DL, Walker, Torres Called Up - Arkansas Travelers
- Back On Track - Midland RockHounds
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