TL Amarillo Sod Poodles

Cecconi's Quality Start Not Enough in Shutout

Published on May 20, 2022 under Texas League (TL)
Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release


Amarillo, TEXAS - The Amarillo Sod Poodles (18-19) were shut out for the second time this season in a 3-0 defeat to the Tulsa Drillers (22-14) on Friday night. Slade Cecconi struck out a season-high seven batters in his first quality start of the year, but the Sod Poodles were held to just one hit over the final six innings.

Cecconi (2-2) entered the game as the victor in each of his last two appearances and put forth another strong effort despite receiving the loss. The first two Drillers of the game reached on singles, but Cecconi settled in by striking out two and escaping the inning scoreless. The Sod Poodles matched them with two singles in the bottom of the 1st but went scoreless as well.

Jeison Guzman hit his first double as a Sod Poodle in the 2nd but was left stranded. That hit proved to be the last one for Amarillo until the bottom of the 9th. Landon Knack, the Dodgers' No. 7 prospect, carved through the Sod Poodles lineup en route to nine strikeouts, no walks, and three hits.

Tulsa scored first with a run in the 3rd, their third time scoring first in the series. A one-out double set up a two-out RBI single to give the Drillers a 1-0 lead, and Cecconi responded with two strikeouts in the inning.

Slade kept dealing into the 4th and struck out two more Drillers in the frame. He ended his night with seven strikeouts, setting a new season-high. Despite his strong night, Tulsa added to their lead with one run apiece off of him in the 5th and 6th. They scored one in the 5th off a solo home run, but Amarillo got out of the inning off of back-to-back highlight grabs in the outfield by Nick Dalesandro and Eduardo Diaz.

Cecconi issued his only walk of the game with one out in the 6th and the runner came in to score on an RBI triple. His first quality start of the season ended at 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, and 7 K on 88 pitches.

Justin Lewis and Keegan Curtis combined for three strong innings in relief, teaming up to strike out four while allowing just three baserunners.

Down but never out, Amarillo threatened in the 9th and brought the tying run to the plate. Leandro Cedeno and Ti'Quan Forbes both reached with one out on a single and a walk, and both advanced into scoring position on a walk. The final two Sod Poodles struck out to end the game.

The Soddies were out-hit 9-4, and Cedeno was responsible for half of the knocks with a 2-for-4 effort. Amarillo went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base.

Tulsa leads the series 3-1 with two to play and game five is set for tomorrow, Saturday, May 21 with first pitch at 7:05. Bryce Jarvis (2-1, 5.58 ERA), the Diamondbacks' No. 7 prospect, will be on the mound to face Dodgers' No. 2 prospect Bobby Miller (1-1, 4.22 ERA).

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