TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Cards Sweep Drillers

Published on July 15, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


July 14, 2008 - Monday's doubleheader between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals turned into a battle of attrition. In the second game, both teams ran out of pitchers and sent catchers to the mound in a game that went 13 innings. The Cards finally pushed across four runs in the top of the 13th for a 7-3 win and a sweep of the doubleheader.

Springfield won the first game of the doubleheader by a 4-2 score.

Matt Pagnozzi was the hero in the game two win for the Cardinals. The converted catcher worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings on the mound and provided a three-run double in the top of the 13th inning.

With the score tied at 3-3 after four innings, the two teams played eight scoreless innings in game two before the Cardinals broke the 3-3 tie in the 13th on consecutive doubles by Cody Haerther and Mark Shorey. Later in the inning, Pagnozzi's double gave Springfield three additional runs.

The four runs spoiled a good outing on the mound by Esposito. In his first pitching appearance since throwing in 13 games for Class A Augusta in 2003, Esposito threw three scoreless innings before surrendering the four runs.

The sweep by Springfield dropped the Drillers into a first-place tie with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Game two's scoring began in the top of the first inning as Tyler Greene led off with a double. He eventually came home on a double play groundball, giving the Cards a 1-0 lead.

Springfield added to its lead in the fourth. Shorey walked and scored on a triple by Brandon Yarbrough. Pinch-hitter Isa Garcia doubled down the left field line to drive in Yarbrough putting the Cardinals lead at 3-0.

Tulsa broke into the run column in the bottom of the fourth. Justin Nelson and Eduardo Cornejo both singled and advanced on a wild pitch by Jonathan Mikrut. Rick Guarno followed with a single to left cutting the lead to 3-1. Pinch-hitter Jeff Kindel singled to right, scoring Cornejo and sending Guarno to third. Corey Wimberly then extended his hit streak to six games with a run-scoring single that tied the game at 3-3.

It would be Tulsa's final offensive production of the night.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Drillers actually took a 2-0 first-inning lead, but watched the Cards come back for the win.

Tulsa's first inning began with a leadoff single by Wimberly. After Dexter Fowler flied out, Matt Miller walked. Tony Blanco plated Wimberly with a base hit to left field. Miller moved to third on the play, where he scored on a ground out by Kindel.

The Cards tied the game with a pair of runs off starter Xavier Cedeno in the bottom of the second. The first run came courtesy of Allen Craig's 16th homer of the season to leadoff the inning. Haerther singled and scored on an error by second baseman Wimberly.

Springfield took the lead in the fourth as Pagnozzi singled and scored on a double by Shorey.

The game's final run scored in the top of the seventh inning on a run-scoring single by Craig.

Cedeno was charged with the loss to even his record at 7-7. It was his first defeat since June 6.

The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their series Tuesday night. Ching-Lung Lo (6-7, 5.45 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa against Kyle Sadlowski (2-0, 2.90 ERA). Starting time is scheduled for 7:05PM at Drillers Stadium.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from July 15, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central