Sports stats

TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers drop game one in 11 innings

September 5, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Playoff baseball games are often low-scoring, pitching dominated contests. That was the case Tuesday night at Drillers Stadium for game one of the North Division Playoff Series, and it took the heroics of an 8th-place hitter to produce a winner. Wichita shortstop Angel Sanchez accounted for both runs batted in as the Wranglers rallied to post a 2-1 win in 11 innings and to take a 1 game to none lead in the best-of-five series.

The Wranglers rally spoiled a dominating performance from Drillers starting pitcher Juan Morillo. The right-hander worked the first seven innings, blanking the Wranglers on only three hits. He walked two hitters while striking out 10 with an over-powering fastball.

Wichita starter Zack Greinke also had a good outing, but he made one mistake. Greinke surrendered a one-out, solo home run to Tulsa catcher Alvin Colina in the fifth inning that put the Drillers in front 1-0.

Protecting the slim lead, Morillo retired the final 11 hitters he faced before turning things over to the Tulsa bullpen. Judd Songster relieved and got the first batter in the eighth but then allowed a single to Damaso Espino. Josh Newman replaced Songster and gave up a base hit to Chris Lubanski that put runners at first and second. Newman escpaed the jam by retiring Mitch Maier and Alex Gordon to end the inning.

The Drillers had a chance to add to their lead when Doug Bernier began the bottom of the eighth with a double. Seth Smith sacrificed him to third, but Bernier was left stranded when Ian Stewart flied out to shallow left field and Joe Koshansky was retired on strikes.

The missed opportunity came back to haunt the Drillers in the ninth. Newman struck out Dee Brown to begin the inning before giving way to Jim Miller. The Tulsa closer allowed consecutive singles to Donnie Murphy and Kila Kaaihue that put runners at first and third. Sanchez then delivered the first of his two runs batted in. On an 0-2 count, the Wichita shortstop dropped a broken-bat single in front of left fielder Joe Gaetti that plated Murphy with the game-tying run. After the hit, the Wranglers missed a chance to take the lead. With runners at first and second, Brett Groves popped out and Adam Donachie grounded out.

The Drillers had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the 10th as Wichita closer Gabe DeHoyos issued consecutive one-out walks to Colina and Bernier. Smith grounded into a force out that left runners at the corners, and DeHoyos then retired Stewart on a groundball to second that sent the game to the 11th inning.

Drillers' reliever Jentry Beckstead, who worked a scoreless 10th, issued a single to Brown on a 3-0 pitch to start the 11th. Murphy then attempted a sacrifice bunt but popped out to Koshansky at first. Kaaihue followed with a drive to deep center field. Jordan Czarniecki raced to the track and nearly made the catch, but the ball came loose when he collided with the wall. The double for Kaaihue left runners at second and third with only one out. The Drillers then brought the infield in for Sanchez. The shortstop delivered again as he hit a sharp, one-hopper just to the left of second baseman Christian Colonel. With a chance to get Brown at home, Colonel had the ball deflect off his glove, leaving him with only the play at first. Sanchez was retired, but Brown came home with the tie-breaking run.

Devon Lowery then made sure the 2-1 lead held as he retired the Drillers in order in the bottom of the 11th.

The loss continued a late-season trend for the Drillers as they were swept in a five-game series by the Wranglers to end the regular season. Counting Tuesday's loss, Tulsa has scored a total of only six runs in the six losses.

The Drilers will hope for another strong pitching performance Wednesday night from game two starter Marc Kaiser (10-10, 4.15 ERA). Kaiser delivered one of the biggest outings of the season for Tulsa in the final game of the first-half. His 9-inning, complete-game victory over Springfield clinched the first-half title for the Drillers.

Kaiser will be opposed in Wednesday's meeting by Wichita's Tyler Lumsden. Lumsden was a combined 11-5 for Wichita and Birmingham this season.

Starting time for Wednesday's game two at Drillers Stadium will be 7:05PM. Free tickets for the game are still available from Primeaux Kia and NewsChannel 8 at all Tulsa area Reasor's locations.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics



Texas League Stories from September 5, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Tulsa Drillers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central