Drillers Ninth Inning Rally Not Enough, Fall 3-2
Published on July 10, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
One year ago on this date, Christian Friedrich was pitching in the futures game in Anaheim, California. Sunday night in San Antonio, he pitched like he belonged in the game again this year. With eight innings under his belt and only one run the Drillers helped the lefty by taking the lead in the top of the ninth. Yet the Missions would come back to score two in the bottom of the ninth to spoil the outing, as the Missions beat the Drillers late 3-2.
In his last outing against the Missions on July 4th, Drillers starter Christian Friedrich threw seven strong innings but it was the first inning where he ran into trouble.
The same would be true on Sunday as Friedrich surrendered a leadoff home run to the Missions first batter, centerfielder Blake Tekotte. The home run was Tekotte's fourteenth of the year and his third in his last two games against the Drillers. The home run put the Missions on top after the first inning 1-0.
After three innings the Missions still had the upper-hand at 1-0, but the Drillers threatened in the fourth.
Darin Holcomb lead off the inning with a ground out to second, that was followed by a sharp line drive single off the bat of Scott Beerer to left field. With the Drillers down 1-0, Beerer tried to use his legs to get the Drillers in the game. Beerer stole his fifteenth and sixteenth bases with Hector Gomez and Lars Davis at the plate however he was eventually stranded at third base with two outs when Davis struck out swinging.
The game remained dead locked at 1-0 until the top of the ninth and with the Drillers only managing one runner reach third through the first eight innings of the ballgame but a Jimmy Cesario pinch hit double would change that and the score.
Hector Gomez led off the inning with a liner up the middle, followed one batter later by a Mike Mitchell walk. With Christian Friedrich due up, Drillers manager Duane Espy decided to go with pinch hitter Cesario in favor of Friedrich.
Cesario then pulled a double down the right field line just inches within the chalk down the line, scoring both Gomez from second and Mitchell from first as the Drillers took their first lead of the day in the ninth 2-1.
The Drillers used a marvelous outing from Friedrich to stay in the game throughout the night, as he went eight innings allowing only six hits, one earned run, striking out five and walking none. The only run credited to Friedrich was the leadoff home run by Tekotte in the first inning.
The close score almost assured fans a nail biting finish between the two teams.
The Drillers lead did not last long as hoped with closer Daniel Turpen loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth by way of a double and two walks. Mission's catcher Ali Solis then drove a double over the head of Tim Wheeler to score the tying and game winning runs, as the Missions topped the Drillers in the bottom of the ninth 3-2.
The Drillers will again be taking on the San Antonio Missions Monday night at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio. First pitched is scheduled for 7:05 PM as the Drillers will be sending Rob Scahill (6-6, 4.66) to the mound with the Missions still undetermined who will pitch the second game of the three game set.
Texas League Stories from July 10, 2011
- Late Inning Heroics Give Missions 3-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Comeback to Thrash Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homerun in 13th Sinks Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Fall to Midland 15-12 - Springfield Cardinals
- Frisco Roughriders: Frisco Rebounds in Extras for Third Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Late Inning Heroics Give Missions 3-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Ninth Inning Rally Not Enough, Fall 3-2 - Tulsa Drillers
- Game Notes, July 10 - Nw Arkansas at Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Holcomb Leads Drillers Over Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals fall in series finale vs. Missions - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions end losing streak - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Win Fourth Straight, Sweep Rockhounds - Arkansas Travelers
- Missions dominate - San Antonio Missions
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