Drillers Cool Off Naturals
Published on June 14, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Coming into today's game, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals were red-hot. Riding a six game winning-streak, the Naturals were able to jump in front of the Tulsa Drillers and into second place in the Texas League North Division standings. Tulsa desperately needed a win to keep their post-season hopes alive and that's just what they got. The Drillers pitching staff two-hit the Naturals in an 8-0 win Sunday afternoon.
The Tulsa pitching staff recorded back-to-back shutouts and has not allowed a run in 23 straight innings.
Joey Williamson made his second start of the year and gave up only one hit in four scoreless innings, but reached his pitch limit and was one inning short of the five required innings needed to receive a win.
The win was credited to relief pitcher Xavier Cedeno (2-2) who threw two no-hit shutout innings, striking out one and walking three.
Michael Paulk led the Drillers going 3-5 with a home run and four runs batted in. Daniel Mayora went 2-4 and is hitting a team leading .307.
The Drillers scored quickly in the top of the first inning. Anthony Jackson led off with a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. With two outs Jackson scored on a single by Paulk to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Ryan Harvey belted a home run to deep centerfield to add to the Drillers lead 2-0. Three of Harvey's nine home runs this season are at the Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Xavier Cedeno relieved Tulsa starter Joey Williamson after the fourth inning. Cedeno threw nine-straight balls and put runners at first and second with no outs, but was able to get a double play and groundout to get out of the jam.
The Drillers added another run in the sixth inning. Jeff Kindel walked, Paulk singled, and Harvey reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Darin Holcomb grounded into a double play that allowed Kindel to score and extend the lead to 3-0.
Tulsa would eventually push their lead to 8-0. Mayora singled and Kindel walked before Paulk belted a three run home run to right field in the eighth inning. In the ninth inning, Rex Rundgren and Jose Gonzalez walked and scored on consecutive singles by Mayora and Kindel.
Reliever Jarrett Grube threw two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit with three strikeouts and Tommy Baumgardner finished up the game for the Drillers with a perfect ninth inning.
Robinson Tejeda (0-1) took the loss after pitching 1.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. Tejeda is on a Minor League rehab assignment with the Kansas City Royals.
With the win, Tulsa moves into a second place tie with the Naturals and is 2.5 games back of the first-place Springfield Cardinals with nine games remaining. The Springfield Cardinals face the Arkansas Travelers Sunday night in North Little Rock.
The Drillers will continue their series with the Naturals on Monday night. Brandon Durden (1-1, 2.76 ERA) will take the mound for the Drillers against Everett Teaford (7-1, 2.39 ERA at Wilmington). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Arvest Ballpark.
Notes:
Sunday's game was delayed 20 minutes due to rain in the Springdale, Arkansas area . . . Naturals' Jordan Parraz extended his hitting streak to a Naturals record 18 games.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2009
- Travs top Cards 7-3 - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards Drop Third Straight - Springfield Cardinals
- Reliever Herndon Placed on Disabled List - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Cool Off Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Tulsa Blanks Naturals Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Mother Nature reschedules kids clinic again - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers arrive in Springdale for playoff chase - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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