Drillers Excel in All Phases in 5-0 Win
May 8, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers executed in all phases Sunday afternoon to produce a 5-0 victory over the Springfield Cardinals at ONEOK Field. The Drillers got early timely hitting, strong pitching and outstanding defense to produce the shutout win.
The victory was the third in the past four games for the Drillers and moved them one game closer to the first-place Cardinals in the Texas League standings.
After falling behind early in Saturday's loss, the Drillers jumped to a quick lead Sunday against Springfield starter Andrew Morales. Morales, who entered the game with a 3-1 record and a 1.93 ERA, retired the first two Tulsa batters in the bottom of the first inning before issuing a two-out walk to Cody Bellinger. Bellinger scored the game's first run when Jacob Scavuzzo followed with a triple into the gap in left-center field. Alex Verdugo made it a two-run inning with a base hit to center that brought Scavuzzo home.
Drew Maggi upped the lead to 3-0 in the second. With one out, Maggi lined the first pitch he saw from Morales into the Budweiser Terrace in left field for his second home run of the season. The infielder entered this season with only eight career homers in six previous minor league seasons.
Later in the second, Andrew Toles doubled and scored on a base hit from Kyle Farmer to make it 4-0.
It remained that way until the bottom of the seventh. The Drillers extended their lead to 5-0 when Willie Calhoun doubled just out of the reach of right fielder Collin Radack to score Scavuzzo, who had singled.
Starting pitcher Trevor Oaks continued his strong start the season, working six shutout innings. The right-hander allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five. The win improved his Double-A record to 2-1, as he became the first Tulsa pitcher this season to record two wins at ONEOK Field.
Oaks got help from his defense with two double plays and a "web gem" from second baseman Willie Calhoun in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Alex Mejia hit a bouncer up the middle that appeared headed into centerfield, but Calhoun made a backhanded stop before spinning and throwing to a stretching Bellinger at first to just retire Mejia for the inning-ending out.
The defense also helped reliever Ralston Cash work a scoreless seventh. Radack drew a leadoff walk from Cash, and Luis Cruz followed with a double to the fence in deep right-center field. Radack tried to score on the hit, but he was thrown out at the plate as Verdugo and Calhoun executed a perfect relay to catcher Tyler Ogle.
Former major league outfielder turned relief pitcher Jordan Schafer escaped a bases-loaded situation to work a scoreless eighth inning, and Caleb Dirks closed out the Drillers second shutout of the season with a perfect ninth.
Offensively, Tulsa totaled 12 hits in the victory. Farmer and Calhoun each collected three hits, while Toles and Scavuzzo both had two.
The Drillers and Cards will continue their series with their second straight day game on Monday morning at ONEOK Field. Starting time is set for 11:05AM with Scott Barlow (0-2, 3.25 ERA) getting the starting assignment for Tulsa against Corey Brown (2-0, 1.33 ERA) of Springfield.
Texas League Stories from May 8, 2016
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- Travs Blanked by Nats Back-To-Back Days - Arkansas Travelers
- Junis Fires Seven-Shutout Innings in Naturals 1-0 Win over Travelers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Even Series with Sunday Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Excel in All Phases in 5-0 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Game Notes - 4:05 p.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - May 8, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks Blank San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
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