Drillers Lose Opener to Missions
Published on July 3, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
One night after scoring 17 runs, the Tulsa Drillers found the offense much harder to come by Sunday night in downtown Tulsa. Facing San Antonio, the team with the best winning percentage in all of Minor League Baseball this season, the Drillers were limited to only two runs and were defeated by the Missions 4-2.
It was the first meeting since April between the two teams, and San Antonio has now won four of the seven matchups this year.
Wearing a camo jersey, Tim Wheeler collected three hits in Tulsa's 4-2 loss to San Antonio Sunday night. The jerseys were auctioned to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation. (Rich Crimi)
The loss leaves the Drillers with a 6-4 record in the second-half of the season and keeps them one game behind first-place Arkansas, who failed to hold a six-run lead Sunday in a 7-6 loss to Frisco.
After a scoreless first inning at ONEOK Field, Missions' cleanup hitter James Darnell opened the scoring with a solo homer in the top of the second inning. It was Darnell's 17th home run of the season, but his first against the Drillers. He entered the game hitting .471 in five previous games against Tulsa this season.
The Drillers evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Paulsen drew a leadoff walk and scored the tying run on a one-out double from Scott Beerer.
It remained tied until things unraveled for Tulsa in the top of the sixth inning. Jaff Decker put the Missions back in front when he led off with his 13th home run of the season. When Darnell followed with a double into the gap in right-center field, Drillers starting pitcher Cory Riordan was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Matt Benham while backing up third base on the play.
With nobody throwing in the bullpen, manager Duane Espy called on Sean Jarrett to take over for Riordan. After getting several minutes to warm up, Jarrett's first pitch in the game was deposited into the Tulsa bullpen by Sawyer Carroll. The 10th home run of the season for the Henryetta resident put the Missions in front 4-1.
Wilin Rosario trimmed the lead to two runs with his 12th homer in the bottom of the sixth. Rosario's blast landed at the top of the grass berm in left-center field.
From there, the bullpens dominated. Jarrett recovered to work two scoreless innings, while Dustin Molleken pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance since May 12. Daniel Turpen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
A trio of San Antonio relievers combined to hold the Drillers scoreless over the final three innings. Brad Brach retired Tulsa in order in the bottom of the ninth to record his Texas League leading 23rd save of the year.
Looking for his second win of the season, Riordan pitched effectively prior to his ejection. In five innings, he surrendered three runs on five hits while striking out five. The defeat dropped his record to 1-8.
San Antonio starter Casey Kelly (7-3) collected his team-leading seventh win of the season. The right-hander allowed four hits and one run in five innings.
Wheeler accounted for three of the Drillers seven hits, picking up three singles.
Tulsa and San Antonio will play the second game of their three-game series Sunday night at ONEOK Field. The pitching matchup will feature Christian Friedrich (6-5, 3.94 ERA) for the Drillers against Rob Musgrave (5-2, 3.81 ERA) of the Missions.
NOTES: The Drillers made a pair of roster moves before the game. In addition to activating Molleken from the disabled list, they sent relief pitcher Keith Weiser to Triple A Colorado Springs. . .The camo jerseys the Drillers wore in the game were auctioned with proceeds benefiting Major Dan Rooney's Folds of Honor Foundation.
Texas League Stories from July 3, 2011
- Drillers Lose Opener to Missions - Tulsa Drillers
- Stoneburner, 'Riders Rally to Win 7-6 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks' Slams Sink Naturals Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Beat Midland 6-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Corpus Christi Hooks Game Notes - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Former Natural Crow named as AL All-Star - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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