De Jong, Drillers Blank Frisco
May 24, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Tulsa Drillers Pitcher Chase De Jong
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
Tulsa Drillers pitcher Chase De Jong continued his recent mastery of Texas League hitters Tuesday night at ONEOK Field. De Jong allowed only two hits in seven shutout innings to help the Drillers blank the Frisco RoughRiders 3-0. The impressive outing came against a RoughRiders team that entered the game with the Texas League's best record.
It was a repeat performance for De Jong. In his last outing on May 18, the right-hander surrendered only two hits in seven shutout innings against Springfield.
Going back further, it was De Jong's third shutout performance in his past four starts. On May 5, he held Arkansas scoreless while allowing only one hit. The only blemish in his stellar month of May came in a four-inning start at Springfield when he surrendered two runs to the Cardinals.
In his four starts in the month, he has allowed only eight hits and the two runs in 25 total innings. In Tuesday's gem against the RoughRiders, De Jong did not walk a batter while striking out six.
The victory evened his record at 4-4 and lowered his ERA to 2.70.
The win for the Drillers came against Connor Sadzeck, who entered the game with a perfect 5-0 record for the RoughRiders. The hard-throwing right-hander is rated among the top pitching prospects in the Texas Rangers minor league system.
Sadzeck matched De Jong with three shutout innings to open the game before the Drillers broke up the scoreless battle with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Alex Guerrero singled for his first hit in 22 at-bats since joining Tulsa on a major league rehabilitation assignment from the Los Angeles Dodgers. A walk to Alex Verdugo and a base hit by Jacob Scavuzzo loaded the bases.
A bout of wildness from Sadzeck helped the Drillers get on the board. The Frisco hurler hit Cody Bellinger with a pitch to force in the first run before throwing a wild pitch that allowed Verdugo to come home to make it 2-0.
The Drillers used a two-out rally in the sixth to add their third run. With the bases empty, Scavuzzo singled and Sadzeck hit Bellinger with a pitch for the second time. With three infielders placed on the right side of the infield, Willie Calhoun beat the shift with a grounder through the space vacated by the shortstop for a base hit that scored Scavuzzo.
De Jong and a pair of Tulsa relievers made sure the three-run lead held. Caleb Dirks came on to open the eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Evan Van Hoosier. After a fly out, a throwing error by Dirks put runners at first and second, and brought the potential tying run to the plate, setting the stage for the most eventful occurrence of the night.
Kellie Deglan hit a ground ball to Calhoun at second that looked like an ending-inning double play, but shortstop Brando Trinkwon's throw to first was low and wide. The Drillers promptly asked for interference on Zach Cone's slide into second base, and after a brief discussion, the umpires concurred and the double play was awarded to end the inning.
The ruling quickly brought Frisco manager Joe Mikulik from the dugout. Mikulik, who has a history of antics with umpires, was ejected, setting off a further tirade. After a pair of demonstrative slides into second base, he removed second base and punted it into right field, then attempted to erase the third base foul line before heading to the clubhouse.
Dirks departed after his one inning as Tulsa manger Ryan Garko called on newcomer Scott Griggs to work the ninth. Griggs pitched around a two-out double to wrap up the victory and record his first Double-A save.
The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes due to a thunderstorm in the downtown Tulsa area, but took just over two hours to complete.
The series will continue Wednesday night and will feature a pitching matchup of Tim Shibuya (0-1, 0.69 ERA) for the Drillers and lefthander Victor Payano (4-1, 3.40 ERA) for the RoughRiders. Starting time is scheduled for 7:05PM at ONEOK Field.
Images from this story
 Tulsa Drillers Pitcher Chase De Jong (Rich Crimi) |
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