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TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers' season comes to dramatic end

September 8, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The Tulsa Drillers staged one of the most gallant comeback's in franchise history Friday night, and it literally came up inches short. After spotting the Wichita Wranglers a 7-0 lead through five innings, the Drillers rallied to within one run. Trailing 7-6 entering the ninth inning, Matt Miller began the final frame with a lined single to center field off Wichita closer Devon Lowery. A sacrifice bunt advanced pinch-runner Jordan Czarniecki to second base, but pinch-hitter Tino Sanchez struck out. Down to their final out, the Drillers got another clutch hit from newcomer Jonathan Herrera. The shortstop singled sharply into left field, and Tulsa manager Stu Cole never hesitated and waved Czarniecki home. Left fielder Chris Lubanski fielded the liner and fired home to just get Czarniecki for the out that ended Tulsa's season.

The victory allowed the Wranglers to win the best-of-five North Division Series three games to one. The final game was very similar to the entire series. The Drillers fell into a deep hole after losing the first two games at home. They battled back to claim a 6-0 victory in game three, but saw their game four rally and series rally end on Lubanski's throw.

"In that situation, you've got to make the guy make the play, and you have to give him credit," said Cole. "I'm proud of our guys the way they battled back, and they have nothing to be ashamed of. They played hard until the final out."

The dramatic ending overshadowed two strong performances from the last two number one draft picks for the Kansas City Royals. Third baseman Alex Gordon, selected last June, and pitcher Luke Hochevar, were outstanding on Friday. Gordon homered twice and Hochevar, making his Double A debut, worked 5 1/3 no-hit innings as the Wranglers jumped out to their 7-0 lead.

Gordon put Wichita in front early with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning off Tulsa starter Enmanuel Ulloa.

The Wranglers added to their lead with a 3-run third inning. The frame began when Lubanski struck out on a wild pitch but was able to beat catcher Colina's throw to first base. Gordon followed and just missed hitting his second homer when he flied out to the wall in left-center field, but Dee Brown then singled to advance Lubanski to third. After Billy Butler flied out, Mitch Maier singled home Lubanski. Donnie Murphy loaded the bases with an infield single, and Angel Sanchez made it three straight hits with a 2-run single to center that put Wichita in front 4-0.

Gordon belted his second home run of the game in the fourth inning to increase the margin to 5-0. The homer was a towering blast that easily cleared the wall in right field.

Butler homered to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and Maier followed with a double that ended Ulloa's night. Murphy greeted reliever Alberto Arias with a base hit that scored Maier to increase the Wranglers lead to 7-0.

Hochevar, who had pitched in only four Class A games before being promoted to Double A for the playoffs, was dominating the Drillers. Through five innings, the right-hander held Tulsa without a hit. The only base runner had come on a first- inning walk to Joe Koshansky.

When Colina struck out to begin the sixth, Hochevar had retired 14 straight hitters. Doug Bernier finally ended the streak and the no-hit bid with a one-out triple. Herrara then ended the shutout with an infield single that brought Bernier home. Wichita manager Frank White turned to his bullpen and called on Neal Musser. Musser yielded a third straight hit as Seth Smith singled to right field. The Drillers inning was helped when a potential double play grounder off the bat of Koshansky was fielded by first baseman Kila Kaaihue, but shortstop Angel Sanchez mishandled the throw and allowed Herrara to come home with the second run. After Joe Gaetti struck out, Ian Stewart doubled home Smith for Tulsa's third run.

The Drillers continued their comeback with another 3-run inning in the seventh. Colina and Matt Miller drew consecutive walks to begin the frame, and Gabe DeHoyos came on for Musser. Bernier attempted a sacrifice bunt, but DeHoyos fired to third to get Colina. Herrera then came through with his second hit of the night when he tripled into the right field to move the Drillers to within 7-5. It was Herrera's fifth hit in the past two games, but his first that left the infield. Smith promptly brought him home to cut the Wranglers lead to one run when he hit the next pitch into right field for a sacrifice fly.

It was the second straight big night for Herrera who was playing in only his fourth game for the Drillers. He had three hits in each of the final two games and was the only Tulsa player with more than one hit in Friday's loss.

Arias gave the Drillers a chance to stage the comeback with an outstanding relief effort. He allowed only one hit in 3 1/3 shutout innings after taking over for Ulloa in the fifth inning.

The loss ends the Drillers season while the Wranglers will meet the Corpus Christi Hooks in the best-of-five Texas League Championship Series. The series will begin on Monday night in Wichita.

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