Drillers Post Fourth Straight Win
Published on June 30, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers carried a three-game winning streak into this week's All-Star break, and despite the two-day break, the Drillers were able to keep their winning momentum alive in the first game of a six-game homestand Thursday night. Tulsa rallied from a one-run deficit with three runs in the sixth inning and then held on to post a 4-3 victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks at ONEOK Field.
Scott Beerer hauls in a drive from Jon Gaston in the first inning of Tulsa's 4-3 win over Corpus Christi Thursday night. (Rich Crimi)
The four-game winning streak is one short of matching the Drillers season high of five straight wins that occurred from April 30 through May 6. Tulsa now has a 5-2 record during the second-half of the Texas League season.
With a game time temperature of 100 degrees, the Drillers fell behind early as the Hooks jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jonathan Villar bunted for a hit and moved into scoring position by swiping second base. With two outs, J.D. Martinez brought him home with a ground ball single into center field.
Tulsa answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Tim Wheeler led off with a lined single into right field and advanced to second on a ground out. With two outs, Wheeler swiped third base before scoring when pitcher Jonathan Aristil dropped a throw at first on a ground ball by Scott Beerer.
The score remained 1-1 as Aristil and Tulsa starting pitcher Rob Scahill each worked four scoreless frames.
Corpus Christi went back in front in the top of the sixth when Martinez doubled and scored on a base hit by Jacob Goebbert.
Again, the Drillers responded in the bottom of the inning. Reliever Pat Urckfitz took over for Aristil and hit Wheeler with the first pitch he threw before walking Tommy Field on four straight pitches. After Ben Paulsen moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, the Hooks intentionally walked Beerer to load the bases.
When Jimmy Cesario popped out, the strategy looked to be a good move, but Urkfritz walked Lars Davis to force home the tying run. Brian Rike followed with a lined single into centerfield that plated both Field and Beerer to give Tulsa its first lead at 4-2.
The Hooks moved closer with a run in the eighth off reliever Casey Weathers. With one out, Weathers walked Martinez before throwing a wild pitch that allowed the leftfielder to advance to second. After a ground out, Chris Wallace singled Martinez home to cut the Tulsa lead to 4-3.
The Drillers survived a jam to escape the inning with the lead. Following the Wallace hit, Joe Torres relieved Weathers and walked Goebbert to put runners at first and second. Torres ended the threat by striking out James Van Ostrand.
Daniel Turpen pitched around a two-out single from Villar in the ninth inning to record his fourth save of the season. All four have come since June 20.
Tulsa saves leader Adam Jorgenson pitched the seventh inning and struck out the side as the Drillers used five different pitchers in the game.
Scahill worked the first six innings to pick up the win and improve his record to 6-5. He allowed two runs on five hits while walking two batters and striking out three.
No Tulsa player collected more than one hit in the game as the Hooks out hit the Drillers 7-5.
The Drillers will look to continue their winning streak when the two teams play the second game of their three-game series Friday night at ONEOK Field. Josh Sullivan (1-6, 6.78 ERA) will take the mound for the Drillers against Ross Seaton (3-5, 5.70 ERA) of the Hooks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM with a Fireworks Show scheduled for after the game.
Texas League Stories from June 30, 2011
- Travs Streak Ends At Seven In Midland - Arkansas Travelers
- Stoneburner Delivers Walk-Off Hit for Frisco - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Jump Out Early, Beat Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Post Fourth Straight Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Beaten by Frisco 7-6 - Springfield Cardinals
- Game Notes, June 30 - Corpus Christi at Tulsa - Corpus Christi Hooks
- INF Navarro, OF Francis Join Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Royals Farm Report: June 30th - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs' Players on Losing End of Exhibition - Arkansas Travelers
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