Drillers Rally To Beat Travs
August 26, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
An up and down night for the Tulsa Drillers eventually ended on a positive note in a 7-6 win over Arkansas Wednesday at Drillers Stadium. Down 5-0, the Drillers rallied to take a 6-5 lead, but then watched the Travelers score a ninth-inning run to tie the game. Tulsa responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the ninth to claim the victory.
The win allowed first-place Tulsa to keep its two-game lead over Northwest Arkansas in the North Division standings. The Naturals rallied for an 8-7 win over Springfield Wednesday night in Springdale. There are now only 12 games remaining in the regular season schedule.
The game-deciding rally began when Rex Rundgren was hit by a pitch from Travelers reliever Bobby Cassevah. Anthony Jackson followed with a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs. Danny Sandoval followed with a ground out to the shortstop Hainley Statia, that was nearly a triple play. Statia tried to tag out Rundgren as he moved to third, but the Tulsa shortstop eluded the tag and was safe a third. Statia then attempted to turn a double play, forcing Jackson at second but Sandoval beat the throw to first.
With the inning still alive, the Travs intentionally walked Michael Paulk to load the bases. Jeff Kindel then lofted a fly ball down the left field line. Travs' leftfielder Coby Smith caught the fly, but his throw home was too late to keep Rundgren from scoring the winning run on the sacrifice fly.
The rally gave Andrew Johnston (2-3) the win, even though he was charged with his third blown save of the season. The Tulsa closer worked one inning, giving up one run on two hits.
Arkansas jumped to an early lead in the game with a pair of runs off starter Ching-Lung Lo in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Wil Ortiz tripled and then scored on a double by Hainley Statia. Ivan Contreras followed with a single that plated Statia and gave the Travelers a 2-0 lead.
The Travelers extended their lead to 5-0 in the fourth. Ryan Mount led off with a double to deep center field and came home on a double by Ortiz. Statia then laid down a well-placed bunt single that third baseman Daniel Mayora fielded and threw wildly into right field. The error allowed Ortiz to score and Statia to move to second. Statia eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Peter Bourjos.
Tulsa tied the game with a big five-run rally in the fifth. The rally began with Brad Corley reaching on a fielding error by shortstop Statia. Daniel Carte singled, and Mayora followed with a single that scored Corley. Rundgren's base hit scored Carte, before another hit by Jackson loaded the bases. Sandoval singled to left field to score Mayora to cut the Travs lead to 5-3 and keep the bases loaded.
Sandoval's single ended Arkansas starter Tim Kiely's night as reliever David Herndon replaced him. Herndon got the second out of the inning on a groundball force out from Michael Paulk, but Rundgren scored on the play to trim the deficit to one run. Kindel's infield single then plated Jackson to complete the comeback and tie the game at 5-5.
The Drillers took their first lead with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kindel led off with a single and moved to second on Corley's sacrifice bunt. Dayton Buller walked before both runners moved up a base on a groundout by Carte. With Mayora batting, Kindel raced home on a passed ball to give the Drillers a 6-5 lead.
Tulsa closer Andrew Johnston entered the game in the ninth inning and quickly found himself in trouble after giving up a lead off double to Mount. Ortiz moved Mount to third on a sacrifice bunt, before a single by Statia tied the game at 6-6.
Andy Graham was outstanding in relief of Lo, retiring all nine hitters he faced.
Kindel's game-winning RBI capped a three-hit night for the first baseman as Tulsa out-hit the Travs 11-10.
The Drillers and Travelers will continue their series Thursday night at Drillers Stadium. Keith Wesier (8-13, 5.25 ERA) will start for Tulsa against Marco Albano (3-6, 3.66 ERA) of Arkansas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM at Drillers Stadium.
Texas League Stories from August 26, 2009
- Ninth inning comeback snaps losing skid - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Rally To Beat Travs - Tulsa Drillers
- Murphy, Frisco Edge San Antonio - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Nip Cards, End Five-Game Win Streak - Springfield Cardinals
- DeLome Dumps Hounds - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Colt .45s Caps Tonight - Corpus Christi Hooks
- RoughRiders Recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work" - Frisco RoughRiders
- Torres, Travs Blank Drillers 6-0 - Arkansas Travelers
- Torres, Travs Blank Drillers 6-0 - Arkansas Travelers
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