Drillers Drop Fourth Straight Despite 14 Hits
April 23, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Despite a late rally from the Tulsa Drillers, a shaky first inning led to their fourth consecutive loss, this time 7-3 against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Despite outhitting the Naturals on the night, the Drillers could not string together their hits to record the win.
Tulsa recorded an astounding 14 hits on the night. However, of those 14, 10 came with two outs already recorded in the inning. This led to 9 runners being left on base on the night.
Chase De Jong (1-3, 4.74 ERA) got off to a rough start in this one, allowing a single to Carlos Garcia to start the night. Garcia stole second base, and advanced to third base on a wild pitch from De Jong before coming around on a double by Raul Mondesi.
De Jong recorded a strikeout of Bubba Starling, but the ball got away from catcher Tyler Ogle, allowing Mondesi to advance to third and Starling to reach first. Hunter Dozier then drew a walk, loading the bases for the Naturals with no outs in the top of the first.
De Jong forced Orlando Calixte into a fielder's choice that plated Mondesi, giving the Naturals a 2-0 lead. De Jong retired the next two batters with a pop-out to Willie Calhoun at second base and a ground out to third baseman Drew Maggi.
Tulsa cut into the lead in the third inning. Kyle Farmer, one night after having his 10-game hitting streak snapped, laced a 2-out double to right field, his fifth double on the season. He came around to score on Jacob Scavuzzo's 2-out single, which bounced off the pitcher's mound and over the head of Naturals shortstop Jack Lopez.
Lopez would get his revenge, extending the Naturals lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning with his first home run of the season. Carlos Garcia followed that up with an opposite field double to put the Naturals in business again.
After a sacrifice bunt from Mondesi, the Drillers pulled the infield in trying to cut off another run from scoring. Bubba Starling hit a seeing-eye-single through the left-side of the Drillers defense, plating Garcia and stretching the Naturals lead to 4-1.
De Jong's night was done at this point, after allowing 4 runs on six hits through five innings.
The Naturals added to their lead again in the sixth inning after a throwing error on Tyler Ogle, as the ball got away as he tried to cut down Orlando Calixte attempting to steal third base. Calixte, who was credited with his 8th stolen base on the year, came in to put the Naturals up 5-1.
Tulsa created a little buzz in the eighth inning. After the first two batters of the inning were put away, Willie Calhoun singled, and advanced around to third following a passed ball and a wild pitch from Naturals pitcher Sam Selman. Lars Anderson made him pay, slicing a single through the left side of the infield to bring the score to 5-2 in favor of Northwest Arkansas.
Selman proceeded to walk Tyler Ogle before being pulled from the ball game in favor of Kevin McCarthy, who came into the game and ended the jam by striking out Drew Maggi.
Northwest Arkansas padded their lead some more in the bottom of the eighth, scoring a pair of unearned runs following a fielding error on Jacob Scavuzzo.
Tulsa did not quit, stringing together some baserunners in the top of the ninth. Devan Ahart got it started by drawing a walk. Back-to-back singles from Alec Verdugo and Kyle Farmer brought Ahart around to score, making the Naturals lead 7-3. Naturals closer Kevin McCarthy then induced a game-ending double play on a ground ball from Jacob Scavuzzo, ending the Drillers rally attempt.
Tulsa will wrap up their road trip on Sunday. The Drillers have not yet named their starting pitcher for the final game of the series. The Naturals will send Alec Mills (1-1, 2.12 ERA) to the bump trying to secure the four-game sweep.
Texas League Stories from April 23, 2016
- Frias Fires Hooks to Victory - Corpus Christi Hooks
- First-Inning Runs Not Enough for Riders in Low-Scoring Loss - Frisco RoughRiders
- Torres Puts Away Midland with First Career Grand Slam - San Antonio Missions
- Skoglund Sharp as Naturals Defeat Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Drop Fourth Straight Despite 14 Hits - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Game Notes - 7:05 p.m. at Corpus Christi Hooks - April 23, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- A Big League Kind of Town - Midland RockHounds
- Blackford Dazzles, Travs Capitalize on Errors - Arkansas Travelers
- Explosive Start Carries Riders to Second Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
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