Drillers Shut out in Northwest Arkansas
May 19, 2010 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
A trio of Tulsa pitchers held the potent Northwest Arkansas offensive attack to only six hits and one run Wednesday afternoon, but it was not good enough for the Drillers to post a victory. Edgar Osuna, Everett Teaford and Brandon Sisk combined on a four-hit shutout as the Naturals defeated Tulsa 1-0 at Arvest Ballpark.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Drillers who are now 3-4 on their road trip ahead of the finale Thursday night in Springdale. The result marked the seventh time this season that they have been shut out.
The Drillers are now 1-6 against the Naturals this season, scoring a total of eight runs in the six defeats.
Wednesday's loss wasted a solid pitching effort from a trio of Tulsa pitchers. Starter Cory Riordan allowed only two hits in five scoreless innings before a rain delay of 1 hour 11 minutes in the top of the sixth inning forced his departure from the game.
Reliever Sean Jarrett surrendered the game's only run in the bottom of the seventh to suffer the loss, while Scott Rice worked a scoreless eighth inning.
The rain delay also brought a premature end to Osuna's day. Before his exit, the Naturals' lefthander lowered his Texas League best ERA to 1.23 with five shutout frames.
Teaford pitched three innings to collect the win, while Sisk worked the ninth for his fourth save.
The lone run came when Manuel Pina led off the seventh with an infield hit. Following a sacrifice bunt, Pina moved to third on a base hit by Ernesto Mejia. Ninth-place hitter Chris McConnell followed with a bunt up the first base line that Kiel Roling fielded. Roling appeared to possibly have a play on Pina who was racing home, but he instead failed in his attempt to tag McConnell. The RBI bunt gave the Naturals the only run they would need.
The Drillers best chance to score came on a similar play in the top of the sixth inning. Matt Repec led off with a double before rain delayed the contest. When play resumed, Repec moved to third when Jason Van Kooten reached on an error. With runners at the corners, Anthony Jackson laid down a bunt that first baseman Chris Robinson fielded and threw home to Mejia who tagged out Repec attempting to score. After a ground out, Jeff Kindel walked to load the bases, but the Drillers were kept off the scoreboard when Scott Beerer fouled out.
Tulsa had a chance to tie the game in the ninth when Kindel drew a leadoff walk. He advanced to second on a sacrifice and to third on a ground out, but he was left stranded when Wilin Rosario flew out to end the game.
The Drillers will look to end their four-game losing streak in the finale of their road trip Thursday night. Christian Friedrich (0-1, 2.61 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa against Aaron Crow (1-3, 4.75 ERA) of Northwest Arkansas with first pitch scheduled for 7:00PM.
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Texas League Stories from May 19, 2010
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