Drillers Beat Travs 3-2 Friday
Published on May 11, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The Tulsa Drillers edged the Arkansas Travelers, 3-2, on Friday night at ONEOK Field to even their four-game series at one game apiece. Lars Davis delivered a two-run double to put Tulsa on top in the fourth inning and the Drillers pitching staff was able to fend the Travs off the rest of the way. Parker Frazier (2-3) pitched shutout ball for his last six innings after allowing two runs in the first picking up the win. Travs starter Ariel Pena (1-4) lost for the fourth straight game allowing three runs in six innings.
The loss drops the Travs to 14-20, eight games behind the Drillers for first place in the TL North. Tulsa improves to 22-12 and 6-4 against the Travs. This was the sixth game between the two foes decided by one run.
The Travs quickly found the lead against Frazier stringing together three consecutive hits with two outs in the first inning. Roberto Lopez and Casey Haerther punched singles to right field, then both scored when Adam Heether crushed a double to the top of the centerfield wall for a 2-0 lead.
Although Haerther finished 3-for-5 and the Travs out hit Tulsa 10-6, they only managed to get one more runner to third base. Frazier set down the next seven batters and had double plays turned on Heether twice after singles by Haerther in the fourth and sixth innings.
Tulsa scored their first run when Nolan Arenado (2) blasted a solo home run off Pena in the first inning. Ariel responded by setting seven straight batters into the fourth inning.
The Travs shifted their infield defense in the fourth inning when left handed batter Ben Paulsen led off. He hit a grounder that second baseman Darwin Perez fielded about 20 feet into the right field grass and Paulsen beat the throw. Pena retired the next two batters, but then walked Mike Zuanich bringing Davis to the plate. They battled to a full count before Davis yanked the tenth pitch to the top of the fence in the right-field corner bringing both runners home for a 3-2 Tulsa lead.
Although Pena and two relievers kept the Drillers from getting another runner to second base, the Travs hitters couldn't get anything going.
Their best chance came in the sixth inning when an error and Haerther's third single brought Heether to the plate with just one out. Frazier got him to chop to shortstop where Josh Rutledge started the inning ending double play.
Joey Williamson pitched the eighth inning allowing a leadoff single to Jean Segura. He advanced to second on a hit-and-run groundout by Renny Osuna, but Lopez flied to left and Haerther bounced to short to end the threat.
Coty Woods (7) sealed the game with a shutout ninth inning.
Time of game was 2:33 and the paid attendance was 7,039.
Game three of the series is set for Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Right hander Orangel Arenas (1-2, 4.15) will take the mound for the Travs while Tulsa sends Colorado Rockies righty Jorge De La Rosa for a ML rehab appearance.
Texas League Stories from May 11, 2012
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- Hooks Manage Eighth Inning Escape - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Beat Travs 3-2 Friday - Arkansas Travelers
- Whittleman Powers Naturals to Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Turn Tables on Travs - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards Fall to Naturals 8-2 - Springfield Cardinals
- Cody Decker Powers San Antonio to Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Game Notes, May 11 vs. Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers & Marshall Brewing Announce New Beer - Tulsa Drillers
- Bats Gone Wild - Frisco RoughRiders
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