Drillers Lose Game, Title To Naturals
September 6, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers playoff hopes came to an end with a 6-3 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Sunday night at Drillers Stadium. The Drillers beat the Naturals Saturday night and needed a three-game sweep of their North Division rival to claim a spot in the Texas League playoffs. However, the Naturals pitching staff held the Drillers to only four hits, and Cody Clark belted two home runs to end Tulsa's dreams of post-season action.
With the win, Northwest Arkansas claimed the North Division second-half pennant. After Monday night's regular season finale, the Naturals will take on the Springfield Cardinals in the best-of-five North Division Playoff Series.
The Drillers will conclude their season Monday night in the final game ever at Drillers Stadium.
Driller Stadium opened April 16, 1981 and fans witnessed the Drillers compile a 1061-938-1 record. The opening game of the series on Saturday night was the 2,000th game at Drillers Stadium.
A group of former Drillers players will be introduced before Monday's game and will throw ceremonial pitches on the field, as will individuals representing Drillers Stadium fans, employees and owners.
After the final out, Drillers President Chuck Lamson will be joined on the field by Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and ONEOK Chief Executive Officer John Gibson to help remove the bases at Drillers Stadium. The bases will then be transported and installed at ONEOK Field for use on April 8, 2010 in the Opening Game at the Drillers' new home.
When all ceremonies are completed, fans will participate in a countdown from 29 to remember the 29 seasons at Drillers Stadium. At zero, the lights will be turned off for the final time.
In Sunday night's game, the Drillers took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning when Cole Garner drew a two-out walk and scored on a double by Dayton Buller.
Northwest Arkansas responded in the top of the third as Vance Wilson and Cody Clark belted back-to-back solo home runs into the left field netting to start the inning.
Tulsa starting pitcher Keith Weiser then walked the next two batters before Jeff Bianchi's single cleared the base paths and gave the Naturals a 4-1 lead.
A two-run homer by Clark in the fourth extended the lead to 6-1.
Daniel Mayora's two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh cut the Naturals lead to 6-3.
The Drillers threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning after Darin Holcomb doubled and Michael Paulk walked to put the tying run at the plate with one out. Jeff Kindel followed with a groundout that allowed the runners to move to second and third. Naturals' reliever Aaron Hartsock entered the game and got Cole Garner to groundout to end the Drillers comeback hopes.
Hartsock worked the ninth inning for the Naturals and retired the first two batters. Danny Sandoval blooped a single into right field to keep the inning alive, but any thoughts of a rally were erased as Hartsock retired Anthony Jackson on a groundout to end the game.
John Bannister (4-3) threw three relief innings to pick up the win.
Weiser (9-15) took the loss, giving up six runs on six hits in six innings of work.
Dexter Fowler, playing in the second game of a major league injury rehabilitation assignment from the Colorado Rockies, was 0-3 in the game for the Drillers. He walked once and struck out twice.
Texas League Pitcher of the Year Samuel Deduno (12-4, 2.57 ERA) will take the mound for the Drillers against the Jason Godin (0-1, 2.51 ERA) of the Naturals in Monday night's finale. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM at Drillers Stadium.
Texas League Stories from September 6, 2009
- Three former Naturals headed to the Majors - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals vanquish Drillers, clinch spot - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Lose Game, Title To Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Frisco Defeats Midland, 6-2 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Belt Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Smith Drives In Three, Travs Beat Cards Again - Arkansas Travelers
- One Regular Season Game to Go - Springfield Cardinals
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