Drillers Drop 2nd Straight to Riders
August 23, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
For the second straight game Monday night, the Tulsa Drillers were held to five hits and two runs by the Frisco RoughRiders. The result was a second straight loss as the Drillers dropped a 4-2 decision to the Riders at ONEOK Field.
The two defeats put a disappointing end on a homestand that began so positively. The Drillers won the first four games of the stand and finished with a 4-2 mark.
Each team scored a run in the first inning of Monday's finale. Renny Osuna opened the game with a base hit off Tulsa starter Christian Friedrich. A pair of wild pitches moved him to third, where he scored on a two-out hit from Michael Bianucci.
The Drillers answered in much the same fashion in the bottom of the first. Tim Wheeler led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out base hit by Bronson Sardinha.
Leftfielder Brian Rike gave Tulsa a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning when he hit his 10th home run of the season. Rike is now the seventh Drillers player to reach double figures in homers this year.
The RoughRiders used a long ball to retake the lead in the top of the third. With one out, Mitch Hilligoss singled, and Jonathan Greene followed with his 18th home run. The two-run shot landed 2/3 of the way up the berm in left-center field and put the Riders in front 3-2.
Another homer upped the lead to 4-2 in the seventh, as Bianucci deposited an offering from reliever Cory Riordan into the right field bullpens. It was the 28th home run of the season for the outfielder.
For the third time in his last four starts, Friedrich failed to work past the fifth inning. The lefthander lasted 4 2/3 innings, surrendering seven hits and three runs.
Riordan allowed only the solo homer in 3 1/3 innings of relief work.
Frisco reliever Adalberto Flores allowed only one hit in 4 2/3 innings to collect the win and improve his record to 5-3.
Justin Miller pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his ninth save of the season.
Tulsa was held to only five hits in the game with third baseman Erik Wetzel accounting for two of them, getting a single and a double.
The Drillers will now travel to Little Rock and will open their final road trip of the regular season Tuesday night. Tulsa will send Josh Sullivan (3-8, 6.08 ERA) to the mound, while Arkansas will counter with Matt Shoemaker (12-2, 2.18 ERA). First pitch at Dickey-Stephens Park is scheduled for 7:10PM.
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Texas League Stories from August 23, 2011
- Travs' Offense a No-Show in Loss - Arkansas Travelers
- Bianchi Delivers in Clutch Tuesday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Sullivan Leads Drillers in Shutout of Travs, 5-0 - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Fall to Naturals 5-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Snyder, Frisco Wins Series Opener 5-2 - Frisco RoughRiders
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- Naturals Schedule Ticket 'Amnesty Night' - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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- Travs Last Home Stand Starts Tuesday - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Wait out Rain, Outlast Midland - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Complete Sweep Monday - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Drop 2nd Straight to Riders - Tulsa Drillers
- Missions Defeat Travelers, Sweep Series And Home Stand - San Antonio Missions
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