Drillers Hold off Hounds in Series Opener
Published on August 5, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Tulsa starter Eddie Butler seemed to finally be back in early season form in Tulsa's 5-4 win against the RockHounds Tuesday night.
Butler recorded his first win at any professional level since returning from a DL stint with the Colorado Rockies. After making his major league debut at Coors Field on June 6, the Rockies prospect was placed on the DL with rotator cuff inflammation. In his four starts since coming back from the DL (a rehab each with High-A Modesto and AAA Colorado Springs and two starts with the Drillers), Butler has allowed no fewer than three runs.
However, Tuesday night, the Virginia native looked much more like the pitcher who produced a 4-4 record with a 2.62 ERA in the first half of the season with Tulsa. Butler shutout the RockHounds over five innings, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out four.
Meanwhile, the Drillers bats showed up early. In the first inning, after Chris O'Dowd drew a leadoff walk and Delta Cleary Jr. followed with a single, Taylor Featherston hit a line drive back up the middle to score O'Dowd.
Team RBI leader Ryan Casteel padded his lead by doubling home Cleary Jr. in the next at-bat and Featherston eventually scored on Brian Humphries' ground out.
The Drillers' lead swelled to 4-0 when O'dowd scored Joey Wong from first with a double that split the gap in left-center field.
Midland was able to manufacture its first run in the sixth inning off Tulsa reliever Nate Striz when Kent Matthes singled, stole second and scored on Hiroyuki Nakajima's single.
Featherston expanded upon his big night when he led off the top of the eighth inning with his 13th home run of the season, putting him only one back of Ryan Casteel's 14 home runs for the team lead.
Kent Matthes mirrored Featherston by leading off the home half of the eighth with a solo shot, also his 13th of the season.
The Hounds made the game much more interesting than the Drillers would have preferred in the bottom of the ninth. The RockHounds scored two runs off closer Cole White and had the tying run at second base with two outs. However, Cole White battled through the 23-pitch ninth inning to record his 11th save of the season.
Featherston led Tulsa's offense with three hits, including his home run, and also added two runs scored and two RBI. Casteel and Humphries each also added multi-hit games.
Tulsa and Midland will continue their series at Security Bank Ballpark Wednesday night. Carlos Hernandez (4-5, 2.97 ERA) will take the mound for the Drillers against Midland's Nate Long (10-6, 3.16 ERA), who is tied for the Texas League lead in wins. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.
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