Drillers Open Trip with 5th Straight Win
Published on June 14, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers moved a step closer to a first-half title Thursday night in the opening game of a critical road trip. The Drillers rode an exceptional outing from starting pitcher Dan Houston to record a 5-1 victory over the Arkansas Travelers in North Little Rock's Dickey-Stephens Park.
The result, combined with Northwest Arkansas' win over Springfield, keeps Tulsa's first-place lead at three games over the Naturals. The win was the fifth straight for the Drillers and reduced their magic number for winning the North Division title to three against the Naturals and down to two against the Cardinals.
Houston was outstanding against the Travs, allowing seven hits and one run in eight innings of work. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out six while improving his record to 7-5.
Offensively, the Drillers were held to only seven hits in the game, but they still were able to generate five runs.
After not having a base runner in the first three innings against Travs' emergency starter Mike Piazza, Tulsa's Josh Rutledge opened the fourth with a leadoff single. After Angelys Nina drew a walk, Nolan Arenado advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Rutledge came home with the game's first run on a ground out from Ben Paulsen.
The Drillers upped their lead to two runs in the top of the sixth when Rutledge doubled and scored on a hit from Arenado.
Top prospect Jean Segura accounted for the Travelers lone run with his fifth homer of the season in the bottom of the sixth that cut. It cut the Tulsa lead to 2-1, but the two-run lead was quickly restored in the seventh inning. Kiel Roling doubled, moved to third on a hit by Tim Torres and scored on another hit by Lars Davis.
Ben Paulsen padded the Drillers lead in the eighth with a one-out, two-run homer that gave Tulsa a 5-1 cushion. The blast was estimated to have traveled 400 feet. For Paulsen, who was named to the Texas League All-Star Team earlier in the day, it was his sixth home run of the year.
Houston departed after throwing 94 pitches, 70 for strikes, in his eight innings. Will Harris allowed two hits but worked a scoreless ninth to complete the victory.
The Drillers now have five games remaining in the first half. The schedule includes three more games against the Travelers in North Little Rock before they conclude the half with two games at Northwest Arkansas.
In the second game in Arkansas Friday night, the pitching matchup will feature Parker Frazier (2-7, 4.19 ERA) for the Drillers and Matt Oye (1-3, 5.67 ERA) for the Travelers. Starting time is scheduled for 7:08PM.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2012
- Drillers Open Trip with 5th Straight Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Spectacular Double Play Ends Traveler Rally in Ninth - Arkansas Travelers
- Pair of Two-Run Innings Result in Frisco Win, Magic Number Down to 1 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Fall to Naturals 4-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Hold On, Snap Skid - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, June 14 at Frisco - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Eight Roughriders Named to All-Star Team - Frisco RoughRiders
- Seven Hooks Voted to South All-Star Squad - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Six Naturals Selected for TL All-Star Game - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Four Travs Slated to Play in 2012 Texas League All-Star Game - Arkansas Travelers
- Three Missions Named To Texas League All-Star Team - San Antonio Missions
- Texas League All Stars Announced - Midland RockHounds
- RockHounds Land Seven on All-Star Team - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers, Top Prospects Fill All-Star Rosters - Tulsa Drillers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
