Drillers Overcome Rain Delay, Beat Cardinals 5-1
May 10, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Lars Anderson of the Tulsa Drillers
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
Lars Anderson had a solid night at the plate Saturday going 2-3 with a walk to help lead the Drillers to a 5-1 victory over the Springfield Cardinals at ONEOK Field. (Rich Crimi)
As the rain fell on ONEOK Field for the 5th straight day, the Drillers had to wait to see if the skies would clear long enough to allow them to play. Eventually, the storms moved on, and Tulsa made sure to take advantage of the break in the weather. Riding a solid start from Jeremy Kehrt along with a big night from their offense, the Drillers began their series against the Springfield Cardinals with a 5-1 victory.
Once the game began after a 1 hour and 3 minute rain delay, things moved pretty quickly through the first three innings as both starting pitchers put zeros up on the board. But the offenses for both sides got going in the fourth.
Springfield third baseman Jacob Wilson broke the ice in the top of the fourth, launching a Kehrt fastball deep into the left field terrace to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. The solo shot was Wilson's 7th homer of the year. The Cardinals threatened to add more, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but Kehrt was able to get Breyvic Valera to fly out keeping the Drillers within one.
The Drillers wasted little time answering Wilson's blast as Brandon Dixon led off with a single through the left side off Springfield starter Arturo Reyes. Sensing that Dixon wanted to steal, the Cardinals attempted multiple pickoff attempts but were unable to catch Dixon sleeping. Razor Shines then called a hit-and-run with Lars Anderson at the plate with a full count. Anderson came through, grounding a single through the left side that had been recently vacated by the shortstop as he moved to cover the bag at second. Yadir Drake took advantage of the execution and brought Dixon home with a single of his own to tie things up at one apiece. Reyes would escape the inning without any further damage, but the Drillers bats were just getting warmed up.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Reyes began the inning with a four pitch walk to his pitching counterpart. Peter Lavin then grounded a ball to Jonathan Rodriguez at first that looked like a potential double play. But Rodriguez muffed the ball as it bounced off his glove allowing both Kehrt and Lavin to reach base safely. Dixon got in the middle of the action again as he launched a double to left scoring both runners. After a walk to Anderson, Dixon stole third. Drake then lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Dixon again and give the Drillers a 4-1 lead.
Shortstop Luis Mateo padded the Tulsa lead in the seventh as he blasted a solo bomb into the grass berm beyond left-center field off Springfield reliever Jordan Swagerty. The home run was Mateo's first of the year.
The bullpen trio of Blake Smith, Jeremy Horst and Ralston Cash combined to hold the Cardinals without a hit over the final three innings to seal the win.
Outside of the homer surrendered to Wilson, Kehrt turned in a superb outing. The right-hander completed 6 innings while picking up 4 strikeouts to earn his second win of the season.
Offensively, Dixon led the way as he went 2-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Anderson and Mateo also contributed two hits apiece.
Reyes was saddled with the loss for Springfield as he gave up 4 runs over five innings.
The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their series Sunday afternoon at ONEOK Field with a special Mother's Day edition contest. The first 500 mothers in the ballpark will receive a complimentary Drillers-themed change purse courtesy of Green Country Chevy Dealers, K95.5 and 2 News Works for You. Southpaw Dustin Richardson (2-0, 2.45 ERA) will get the nod for Tulsa. Springfield will counter with righty Andrew Morales (1-2, 3.42 ERA.) First pitch is set for 2:05PM with gates scheduled to open at 1:00PM.
Images from this story
 Lars Anderson of the Tulsa Drillers (Rich Crimi) |
Texas League Stories from May 10, 2015
- Naturals Sweep Twin Bill in North Little Rock - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Pull out Mother's Day Classic to Even Series with Hooks - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Take Mother's Day Game in Tulsa, 3-2 - Springfield Cardinals
- Gallo, Alfaro Lead Offense But Riders Fall - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Overcome Rain Delay, Beat Cardinals 5-1 - Tulsa Drillers
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