Drillers fall in 12
June 7, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The last time Tulsa Drillers reliever Josh Newman had surrendered a run was back on April 19. Since then, the lefthander had appeared in 19 straight games without being scored upon. That remarkable streak ended Wednesday afternoon at Drillers Stadium as the Arkansas Travelers plated a run in the 12th inning against Newman to post a 5-4 win over the Drillers.
After working a scoreless 11th inning, Newman surrendered a one-out double to Matt Brown. Matt Pali popped up for the second out of the inning, but Jason Aspito dropped a single in front of center fielder Jordan Czarniecki that allowed Brown to cross the plate with the tie-breaking run.
Arkansas reliever Kyle Edens then worked around a two-out walk to Troy Tulowitzki in the bottom of the 12th to close the game and gain his first save of the year.
The result was a disappointing ending to a game that began so promisingly for the Drillers. Starting pitcher Juan Morillo struck out the side in the top of the first inning. Then in the bottom of the first, Tulsa took a 2-0 lead on a pair of solo home runs from Troy Tulowitzki and Joe Gaetti. For Tulowitzki it was his ninth homer of the season and for Gaetti his sixth.
The Travelers opened their scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. Brown led off with a walk and later scored on a base hit by Greg Porter.
Brandon Wood's 13th home run of the year tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning.
A 2-run sixth inning gave Arkansas its first lead. Wood was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth and the shortstop would later score on another hit by Porter. A passed ball by catcher Alvin Colina allowed Brown to score the second run of the inning and give the Travs a 4-2 lead.
It would remain that way until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Drillers rallied to tie the game. With two outs and the bases empty, Ian Stewart doubled into the left field corner. After Joe Koshansky walked, Colina doubled home both runners to tie the game at 4-4.
Colina's double would be the final hit of the game for Tulsa. Bill Edwards worked three hitless innings for the Travelers to gain the win and improve his record to 5-2.
The loss for Newman was is first of the year and dropped his record to 3-1. In his 19 game scoreless streak, the 23-year-old allowed only 12 hits in 23 2/3 innings pitched.
Morillo was overpowering at times, but he struggled with his control. In 5 2/3 innings, the right-hander allowed four hits and four runs (3 ER). He walked five and struck out seven.
Jason Burch worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jim Miller pitched 1 scoreless frame. Manuel Corpas kept the Travelers off the scoreboard in the 10th and 11th innings.
The Drillers offense was held to only six hits and no Tulsa player had more than one hit.
Another streak also ended Wednesday for Tulsa. The Drillers were a perfect 8-0 in daytime home games before the extra-inning defeat.
The loss was the second in a row for the first-place Drillers and trimmed their lead in the North Division of the Texas League to 1 ½ games over Springfield, pending the outcome of the Cardinals game with Wichita Wednesday night.
Tulsa and Arkansas will continue their 4-game series Thursday night at Drillers Stadium. Marc Kaiser (4-4, 5.11 ERA) will make the start for the Drillers against Jesse Smith (3-6, 4.86 ERA) of the Travelers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.
Texas League Stories from June 7, 2006
- Hooks erupt for nine runs - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Springfield two back with eleven to play - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers fall in 12 - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Go Twelve For Fourth Straight Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Zack Greinke Starts Tonight - Wichita Wranglers
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