Drillers Cease Cardinals Comeback
April 21, 2022 - Texas League (TL)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Springfield, MO - The Tulsa Drillers held off a late rally from the Springfield Cardinals to earn their eighth win of the season Wednesday night at Hammons Field. Tulsa took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning as Springfield attempted a comeback by scoring three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. The Drillers scored one insurance run in the seventh, and Guillermo Zuniga slammed the door in the ninth as Tulsa earned a 7-5 win.
Both teams were scoreless until Tulsa got on the board in the third inning. Following a lead-off single from James Outman, Michael Busch gave Tulsa a 2-0 lead with an opposite-field home run, his third of the season.
The Drillers doubled their score in the fourth inning. Kody Hoese continued to swing a hot bat as he reached base with a double. Jacob Amaya brought Hoese home when he hit his first triple of the season. One batter later, Jeren Kendall hit a bloop single that brought Amaya in for a 4-0 lead.
A single and two walks loaded the bases for Springfield in the fourth. A third walk in the inning scored a run for the Cardinals to make the score 4-1.
For the third consecutive inning, Tulsa scored two runs that came on back-to-back RBI doubles from Ryan Ward and Carson Taylor, increasing Tulsa's lead to 6-1.
Springfield rallied to score three runs in the fifth inning. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Cardinals. Julio Rodriguez brought two runs to the plate with a single, and a 6-4 forceout scored the third run to bring the game to 6-4.
Carson Taylor gave Tulsa its seventh run of the game with his RBI single in the seventh.
Springfield scored two runs in the eighth inning on Chandler Redmond's two-RBI single, bringing the score to 7-5.
The Cardinals began the ninth with a single by Jordan Walker, and Moises Gomez followed with a single, but Gomez took a wide turn and was caught in a rundown for the first out. Zuniga then took to the mound and recorded two strikeouts to close the game.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS
*Grove tossed two perfect innings before he left the game after being struck by a line drive.
*Busch finished the game just a triple shy of the cycle, hitting a home run, a double and a single.
*Every Tulsa batter in the lineup earned a hit in the game.
*Taylor earned three hits and two RBI, increasing his season batting average to .333.
*Zuniga earned his second save in as many nights when he struck out the final two batters.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers and Cardinals will play game three of their six-game series Thursday night beginning at 6:35 p.m. at Hammons Field. The pitching matchup will be:
Tulsa - RHP Gus Varland (0-1, 5.68 ERA)
Springfield- RHP Dalton Roach (0-0, 2.08 ERA)
Watch or listen live on MiLB.tv or AM 1430 The Buzz on the iHeartRadio app.
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