Drillers drop second straight
May 20, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
For the second straight game Friday night, the Wichita Wranglers used a big first inning to help beat the Tulsa Drillers. The Wranglers took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning on Friday and eventually sent the Drillers to their second straight loss, 6-3.
Similar to the night before, Wichita put the Drillers in an early hole. Matt Tupman began the game with a leadoff single to left off Tulsa starting pitcher Scott Randall and promptly advanced to third on a double by Shane Costa. Justin Huber made it three straight hits with a single to right that scored Tupman with the game's first run. A wild pitch from Randall brought Costa home with the second run. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly from Mike Aviles scored Huber to make it a 3-run inning.
The Drillers cut into the Wranglers' lead with a 2-run second. Ryan Spilborghs led off with a double against Wichita starter Brian Bass. One out later, Jayson Nix put the Drillers on the board with a double into the gap in left-center field. A single by Dan Conway plated Nix with another run.
Tulsa tied the game at 3-3 in the third on a Sean Barker's fourth home run of the season. The blast cleared 15th Street behind the left field wall.
The Wranglers retook the lead in the fourth. Adam Keim and Mel Stocker started the inning with back-to-back singles. With the runners at first and second, Tupman lifted a fly into left-center field for what looked like the first out of the inning, but centerfielder Tony Miler had the ball glance off his glove for an error that loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly from Costa put the Wranglers back in front, and an infield single from Cory Aldridge brought Stocker home and ended Randall's night. Yusuke Arakawa came on and retired Brennan King to end the inning.
Wichita increased its lead to 6-3 in the sixth when Stocker led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Costa.
The Drillers had a chance to cut into the lead in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Trae McGill struck out Barker to end the threat.
McGill set the Drillers down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings to closeout the game and gain his first save of the year.
Randall (2-3) was charged with the loss, surrendering 8 hits, 3 walks and 5 runs (3 ER) in 3 2/3 innings. Arakawa allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings. Judd Songster worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings, and P.J. Bevis worked a scoreless ninth out of the Drillers bullpen.
Bass got the win for Wichita to improve his record to 4-2.
The Drillers will look to break their 2-game losing streak Saturday night against the Wranglers. Zack Parker (4-2, 4.30) will make the start for Tulsa against Mike Stodolka (1-2, 4.23) of Wichita. Game time will be 7:05PM at Drillers Stadium.
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