Drillers Rally Late for Comeback Victory
Published on June 27, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Down to his last strike with two on and two out in the top of the ninth, the game was on the shoulders of Tim Wheeler as the Tulsa Drillers were down 5-3 to the Springfield Cardinals. Wheeler then showed why he is a Texas League All-Star, the center fielder launched a three-run home run to left giving the Drillers a 6-5 lead as the they would go on to get the Cardinals out in the bottom of the ninth completing the comeback victory.
With the games scoreless going into the third inning the Drillers were poised to break a 0-0 tie. With Ben Paulsen up, Wheeler stole second base putting himself in scoring position with two outs.
Paulsen then singled on a sharp ground ball to right scoring Wheeler from second base and giving the Drillers the lead over the Cardinals 1-0.
The Drillers then added to their lead in the top of the fifth. With two outs in the inning Tommy Field put the first pitch he saw from Cardinals starter Kevin Thomas over the left field fence.
Field's home run was the fourth in his last ten games and his tenth overall this season. It also extended the Drillers lead to 2-0.
Up until the sixth inning Drillers starter Cory Riordan had yet to allow a run as he went five strong shut-out innings. Unfortunately everything seemed to fall apart for Riordan in the sixth.
He allowed five runs on six hits in the sixth inning alone, accounting for all the runs he allowed in the entire game. When he was pulled after the sixth, Riordan finished with eight hits, five runs, one walk, and two strikeouts.
After the five run sixth by the Cardinals, Tulsa Drillers catcher Lars Davis closed the gap to within two runs immediately in his next plate appearance in the seventh.
Davis pulled a line drive home run over the right field wall to lead off the seventh inning bringing the Drillers back to within 5-3.
The Cardinals would not score for the rest of the game as the relief efforts of Joey Williamson closed down their lineup over the seventh and eighth innings giving the Drillers a chance to mount a comeback.
Jimmy Cesario was able to reach base to lead off the ninth after Springfield closer Jorge Rondon lost control of a breaking pitch and drilled him. After two strikeouts and a walk, the Drillers had runners at first and second for Wheeler.
Wheeler then picked a great time to hit his league leading nineteenth home run of the year. The home run landed in the Drillers bullpen and finished the late comeback as the Drillers were now in front 6-5.
Keith Weiser then came on two get only his second professional save of his career.
After two days off due to the Texas League All-Star break the Tulsa Drillers will be back at ONEOK Field on Thursday taking on the Corpus Christi Hooks. The Drillers will be giving Rob Scahill (5-5, 4.63) the ball as the Hooks have yet to determine who will be starting the 7:05PM game.
Texas League Stories from June 27, 2011
- Missions Fall 2-1 to RockHounds - San Antonio Missions
- Missons Fall To Midland 2-1 - San Antonio Missions
- Four-Run Ninth Lifts Frisco to 6-3 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Erik Hamren Added To All-Star Team - San Antonio Missions
- Game Notes, June 27 - Frisco at Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Casey Kelly Named Starting Pitcher For South - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Make It Seven in a Row Before Break - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Rally Late for Comeback Victory - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals' Bats on Ice Again Monday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Blow Lead, Lose 6-5 to Tulsa - Springfield Cardinals
- Jimenez Player of the Week - Arkansas Travelers
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