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TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers rally late to beat Missions

May 25, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


There is a saying that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good. The Tulsa Drillers were a little of both Tuesday night in San Antonio. After scoring three runs in the first inning, the Drillers were held without a hit from the third inning through the ninth inning, but were still able to rally for a 6-5 win over the Missions.

Trailing 5-3 entering the ninth and facing former Drillers pitcher and current Texas League saves leader Sean Green, Tulsa scored two runs without the benefit of a hit. Sean Barker led off and reached on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Jesus Guzman. After Jayson Nix walked, Green uncorked a wild pitch that moved the tying runs into scoring position. Alvin Colina struck out, but Corey Slavik grounded out to score Barker and trim the Missions lead to a single run. With two outs and Dan Conway at the plate, Green threw his second wild pitch of the inning to allow Nix to come home with the tying run.

After Jentry Beckstead set the Missions down in order in the bottom of the ninth, Gustavo Escobar led off the top of the tenth with a single. Jeff Salazar laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Escobar to second, and Doug Bernier walked. San Antonio almost escaped the jam when Ryan Spilborghs hit ground ball to second, but the Drillers outfielder just beat the relay throw to first to avoid an inning-ending double play. Barker followed with a two-out single that scored Escobar with the go-ahead run.

P.J. Bevis took over for Beckstead in the tenth and set the Missions down despite issuing a lead off walk. It was the sixth save of the year for Bevis, and the win improved Beckstead's record to 3-0.

Early in the game, it appeared as if the Drillers would not need any late-game heroics to break their 2-game losing streak as they scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Salazar and Bernier began the game with consecutive singles. Salazar would score on a ground out by Spilborghs, and Bernier scored on a single by Nix. A double by Slavik would bring Nix home and put the Drillers up 3-0.

Escobar doubled and Salazar singled in the second inning, but the Drillers were unable to score and it would be last hits for Tulsa until Escobar's lead off single in the tenth.

Keith Ramsey made the start for the Drillers and allowed seven hits and four runs (3 ER) over 4 1/3 innings. Bobby Seay, on an injury-rehabilitation assignment from the Colorado Rockies, relieved Ramsey and worked 1 2/3 innings. He allowed two hits and one earned run. Beckstead surrendered only one hit in three shutout innings.

With Arkansas getting rained out on Tuesday, the Drillers increased their first-place lead to 2 ½ games over the Travelers. Tulsa and San Antonio will conclude their 3-game series Wednesday night at Wolff Stadium before the Drillers return home to begin an 8-game homestand on Thursday.

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Texas League Stories from May 25, 2005


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