TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Done in by Long Ball

June 20, 2013 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The Tulsa Drillers outhit the Springfield Cardinals 10 to 5 on Wednesday night, but in baseball, it's how many runs you score, not how many hits you record. Tulsa stranded 12 runners on base in the series finale in Springfield, while the Cardinals used three two-run home runs to power their way to a 6-2 victory at Hammons Field.

With the loss, Tulsa's record falls to 34-36 overall and 0-2 since claiming the first-half North Division title on Monday.

After recording six straight quality starts, Sean Gallagher took his first loss since joining the Drillers back on May 16. The right-hander, who has spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues, allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits in five innings, while striking out two and walking six. He falls to 3-1 on the season.

Ryan Sherriff picked up his second win of the season for Springfield. The left-hander allowed two runs on seven hits through five innings before handing the game over to his bullpen. Five different Redbird relievers combined to hold the Drillers scoreless over the final four frames.

James Ramsey put the Cardinals on top with his two-run homer in the third. With the pitcher Sherriff on first and one away, the left-handed-hitting Ramsey went deep the other way, sending his fifth long ball of the season into the left field bullpen.

Tulsa nearly squared things up in the top of the fourth, but would have to settle for one in the inning. With one out, Kent Matthes doubled to left. Angelys Nina then singled through the left side of infield to put runners on the corners. Jayson Langfels followed by belting a double deep into the left-center field gap. Matthes scored easily from third on the two-base hit, but Nina was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score from first.

The Drillers would even things up in the fifth. Gallagher helped his own cause, leading off the inning with a single up the middle. He then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cristhian Adames. After Delta Cleary Jr. popped out, Kiel Roling singled to center to put two runners on for Kyle Parker. Parker, playing in his second game since coming off the disabled list, delivered an RBI single to left to score Gallagher and tie the game at two.

Ruben Gotay answered in the bottom half of the inning, blasting the Cards' second two-run homer to take the lead for good. With two away, Tommy Pham drew a walk to keep the inning alive. Gotay followed with his seventh home run of the season to put Springfield in the driver's seat.

The Cardinals added some insurance in the eighth as Xavier Scruggs socked Springfield's third two-run bomb of the night. Once again, the Drillers issued a two-out walk to extend the inning, and with Chris Swauger on first, Scruggs drove his Texas League-leading 19th big fly over the left-center field wall to make it 6-2.

Tulsa loaded the bases in both the seventh and eighth innings, but was unable to convert on either opportunity.

Wednesday's loss brings Tulsa's eight-day road trip to a close. The Drillers return home to ONEOK Field Thursday night to kickoff a four-game series with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Tyler Matzek (3-5, 3.88 ERA) will take the hill for Tulsa against Brooks Pounders (1-4, 4.64 ERA) of Northwest Arkansas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.

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Texas League Stories from June 20, 2013


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