Drillers Offense Awakens in 9-3 Win
Published on July 31, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers entered the series finale with Arkansas having scored an average of only 2.6 runs per game during their past 10 games. They topped that average on Monday with one swing of the bat from an unlikely power source. Warren Schaeffer gave the Drillers an early lead they would not surrender as he belted a three-run homer in the second inning of a 9-3 win over the Travelers at ONEOK Field.
The homer from Schaeffer and a solid outing from starting pitcher Brandon Hynick allowed Tulsa to salvage the final game of a four-game set with the Travs. Arkansas had won the first three games of the series with the Drillers totaling only six runs in the three defeats.
Lars Davis led the Drillers hit parade with three hits in the win at ONEOK Field on Monday night. (Rich Crimi)
Tulsa's big second inning came against ex-Drillers hurler Jarrett Grube and began with one-out singles from Lars Davis and Mike Zuanich. Mike Mitchell made it three straight hits with a liner into centerfield that scored Davis to put the Drillers in front. Schaeffer continued the hit parade with his drive that landed at the top of the terrace section in left field. The home run was the first of the season for the Tulsa infielder and his first since July 5, 2010. The three-run shot gave the Drillers a 4-0 lead.
The two teams took turns scoring single runs over the next two innings. The Travelers ended Hynick's shutout bid with a run in the top of the fifth when Jimmy Swift led off with a single and eventually scored on a fielder's choice grounder from Darwin Perez.
Tulsa answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the fifth as Schaeffer walked, moved to third on a base hit by Corey Dickerson and scored on a groundball from Jimmy Cesario.
The two runs in the sixth came on a pair of solo home runs. For the Travelers, Roberto Lopez hit his 9th of the year, while Ben Paulsen produced his 11th for the Drillers that made the score 6-2.
The Drillers padded their lead with a six-hit, three-run eighth inning. After Cesario led off with a base hit, Nolan Arenado ended a homer drought of his own. The third baseman hit his first home run since June 20 to up the lead to 8-2. Angelys Nina doubled and scored on single by Davis to account for Tulsa's final run.
Lopez produced the Travelers final run, hitting his second home run of the night in the top of the ninth.
Hynick was outstanding in his sixth start for the Drillers. The right-hander left after issuing a leadoff walk to Perez to open the eighth inning. In his seven official innings, Hynick surrendered the two runs on five hits and only one walk. The outing improved his record to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 1.74.
Offensively, the Drillers entered the contest with a .190 team batting average over their last 11 games, but they matched a season high with 15 hits in the victory. Every player had at least one hit with Davis leading the hit parade with three. Cesario, Nina, Zuanich and Mitchell collected two each.
Tulsa will now host Northwest Arkansas in a three-game series that will begin Tuesday night at ONEOK Field. Parker Frazier (4-11, 3.73 ERA) will pitch the opener for the Drillers against Sugar Ray Marimon (1-3, 4.41) of the Naturals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.
Texas League Stories from July 31, 2012
- Travs Drop Slugfest with Springfield - Arkansas Travelers
- Northwest Arkansas Takes Opener from Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Beat Travs 11-9 in 10 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
- 'Riders Walk Away with Series Opener - Frisco RoughRiders
- Pina Punishes Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Piazza Tabbed as Texas League Pitcher of the Week - Arkansas Travelers
- Maronde to Bolster Travs' Starting Rotation - Arkansas Travelers
- Game Notes, July 31 vs. San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Sam Runion Joins Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Offense Awakens in 9-3 Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Pink Jersey Auction Auction over $5,000 for Local Non-Profit Organization - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Rangers Acquire C Geovany Soto and Cash from Cubs for RHP Jake Brigham - Frisco RoughRiders
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