Drillers Fall from First with Disappointing Loss
June 14, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers missed a golden opportunity Tuesday night in Springfield to take control of the Texas League's North Division first-half pennant race. The Drillers twice failed to hold late leads against the Cardinals, including a one-run lead entering the bottom of the eighth inning. The Redbirds rallied by scoring three unearned runs with two outs despite having only one hit in the inning. The result was a 7-6 win for the Cardinals that moved them ½ game in front of the Drillers in the North Division standings.
With six games remaining in the half, the Drillers will head to North Little Rock for a four-game series against the Arkansas Travelers while the Cardinals travel to Springdale for a four-game set with Northwest Arkansas. Springfield and Tulsa will close out the half with pair of games at ONEOK Field on Sunday and Monday.
In Tuesday's back and forth game at Hammons Field, the Drillers appeared on their way to taking a 1½ game lead in the standings after Alex Verdugo put them back in front in the top of the eighth inning. With the score tied at 4-4, Brandon Trinkwon led off with a double. One out later, Verdugo doubled into the left field corner to score Trinkwon and put Tulsa in front for the third time in the game.
But, things fell apart in the bottom half of the eighth. Caleb Dirks struck out the first batter before Mike Ohlman singled. After a fly out, Carson Kelly hit a slow chopper that should have been the third out, but Dirks misplayed the grounder for an error that extended the inning.
Manager Ryan Garko turned to Scott Griggs to get the final out of the inning, but it would never come for the Drillers closer. Griggs uncorked a wild pitch before issuing four straight walks that forced in three runs to give the Cardinals a 7-5 lead. Kyle Hooper eventually recorded the final out to end the inning.
The suspense was still not over as Tulsa tried to rally again in the top of the ninth. With one out, pinch-hitter Paul Hoenecke doubled. Lars Anderson followed with a run-scoring single to pull the Drillers to within one, but Andrew Toles struck out and Trinkwon grounded out to end the disappointing loss.
After posting a win in Monday afternoon's meeting, the Drillers were hoping for a split in the series and things started promisingly. Toles opened the game with a base hit and scored the game's first run on a two-out triple from Verdugo, but Springfield responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the first off Tim Shibuya.
Another run in third upped the lead to 3-1 before the Drillers tied the game in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Jordan Tarsovich and Shibuya worked walks from Cards' starter J.C. Sulbaran. Toles brought them both home with a double that evened the score.
Tulsa took its second lead of the night when Cody Bellinger and Tyler Ogle opened the seventh with consecutive doubles. The Redbirds answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Ralston Cash to again tie the game and set the stage for the fateful final two innings.
The failure to hold the late lead was out of character for the Tulsa bullpen. Griggs entered the appearance a perfect 5 for 5 in save opportunities and had not allowed a run in eight appearances since being promoted from Rancho Cucamonga.
The Drillers will look to get back on track in Wednesday's series opener against the Travelers. Chase De Jong (6-4, 2.57 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa. De Jong has won his last four decisions and has surrendered only 4 runs in his last 30 innings. The Travs will counter with Alex Blackford (2-2, 2.43 ERA). Starting time in North Little Rock is scheduled for 7:10PM.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2016
- Travs Complete Four-Game Sweep of NWA - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Reclaim 1st Place with Wild 7-6 Comeback Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Fall from First with Disappointing Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Swept in North Little Rock in 6-1 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Beck, Beck, Beck, Beck... and Gone - Midland RockHounds
- Beck's Walk-Off Blast Pushes Riders Past RockHounds - Frisco RoughRiders
- Four Missions Headed to TL All-Star Game - San Antonio Missions
- Four Travs Named Mid-Season All-Stars - Arkansas Travelers
- Six Cardinals Headline Texas League All-Star Rosters - Springfield Cardinals
- Nine Drillers Named to TL All-Star Squad - Tulsa Drillers
- Seven RoughRiders Named Texas League Mid-Season All-Stars - Frisco RoughRiders
- 'Hounds Send "5 + 5" to Texas League All-Star Game - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Land Division-Leading 8 All-Stars - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Five Naturals Selected to Texas League All-Star Game - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homestand Highlights: June 15 - June 22 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 11:05 a.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - June 14, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- RockHounds Rally Back to Ty(Ler) Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- RockHounds Score Eight Late Runs to Take Game Two - Frisco RoughRiders
- Yuhl, Tanielu Drive Hooks Past Missions - Corpus Christi Hooks
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