Sports stats

TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers repeat late rally

May 30, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Even though it may have lacked the dramatics of the previous day's walk-off win, for the second consecutive game the Tulsa Drillers staged a come-from-behind rally Monday afternoon in their final at-bat. Trailing by one run entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Alvin Colina and Jayson Nix hit back-to-back home runs to help the Drillers defeat the San Antonio Missions 8-7 at Drillers Stadium.

The rally was very similar to Sunday's 3-run, ninth inning rally against Corpus Christi that concluded with Sean Barker's walk-off home run.

The late heroics were needed on Monday despite the Drillers jumping to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Jeff Salazar and Tony Miller began the the Drillers first at-bat with consecutive singles, and Ryan Spilborghs reached on an error, the bases were loaded with no outs. Barker brought Salazar and Miller home with a 2-run single, and Spilborghs later scored on a wild pitch.

The Missions cut into the lead with a pair of runs off Tulsa starter Keith Ramsey, as Gary Harris had an RBI double and Ismael Castro an RBI single.

San Antonio took the lead with a 4-run third inning that ended Ramsey's day. Shortstop Yunisky Betancourt led off with a double and scored on T.J. Bohn's third home run of the season to gave the Missions their first lead.

Nathan Espy followed with a double and then scored on a triple off the center field wall by Jesus Guzman. Enmanuel Ulloa, in his Drillers debut, relieved Ramsey. Brian Moon, the first batter Ulloa faced laid down a squeeze bunt to put the Missions in front 6-3.

The Drillers slowly battled back. In the third inning, Miller was hit by a pitch and scored when Barker doubled. Doug Bernier and Salazar reached on consecutive walks to begin the fifth, and Miller executed a perfect bunt for his third hit of the day to load the bases. But, the Drillers only managed one run when Spilborghs grounded into a double play.

Tulsa finally tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth inning off San Antonio reliever Chris Key as Nix blasted his third homer of the season.

San Antonio retook the lead in the top of the seventh with its first run off Ulloa when Espy tripled and scored on single by Jesse Hoorelbeke, setting the stage for Tulsa's come-from-behind rally.

In that pivotal eighth, Key retired Corey Slavik to begin the inning. San Antonio then called on Emiliano Fruto from the bullpen. Colina hit Fruto's first pitch over the net in left field to tie the game. Two pitches later, Nix hit his second homer of the game and his fourth of the season to put the Drillers in front 7-6.

P.J. Bevis then worked a 1-2-3 ninth to preserve the win and to earn his ninth save of the season. Yusuke Arakawa worked a scoreless eighth inning to gain the win and even his record at 2-2. Although he was not involved in the decision, Ulloa pitched well in his first Tulsa appearance. The right-hander allowed five hits and only one run in 4 2/3 relief innings. He struck out five.

San Antonio out-hit Tulsa 14-10 as Betancourt and Espy had three hits each. In addition to Miller's three hits, Nix was 2-4 with two runs batted in and Barker was 2-4 with three RBI's to lead the Drillers.

The win moved Tulsa 5 ½ games in front of Arkansas in the East Division standings.

The Drillers and Missions will play game two of their four-game series Tuesday afternoon at Drillers Stadium. Zack Parker (6-2, 3.81) will try to become the Texas League's first 7-game winner. He will pitch against Bobby Livingston (5-2, 3.08) of the Missions. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05PM.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics



Texas League Stories from May 30, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Tulsa Drillers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central