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TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Spoil Wichita Finale

August 27, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Monday night was a sad and difficult night for professional baseball fans in Wichita, and the Tulsa Drillers did little to help make the night easier. The Wichita Wranglers were playing the final affiliated, professional baseball game in the city of Wichita. The Wranglers Texas League franchise is moving to Springdale, Arkansas to begin play next year as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The era ended on a sad note for Wichita as the Drillers posted a 10-1 victory.

It was also the final road game of the regular season for the Drillers. The victory, combined with Springfield's win over Arkansas, improved Tulsa's playoff chances. The Cardinals now hold a 2 ½ games lead over the second-place Travelers and a 3 ½ games lead over the Drillers. If the Cards match their first-half win with a second-half title, a wildcard playoff spot will go to the North Division team with the second-best overall record for the season. The Drillers now hold a three games lead over the Travelers for the possible spot with only seven games remaining in the regular season.

Tulsa starting pitcher Ching-Lung Lo turned in one of the best outings of his professional career on Monday. The right-hander worked all nine innings, allowing only the one run on six hits. He walked three hitters and struck out seven. It was the first nine-inning, complete game that Lo has thrown as a professional. He is only the third Tulsa pitcher to accomplish the feat this season, joining Franklin Morales and Sean Thompson.

The Drillers took advantage of Jorge De La Rosa, who was making an injury rehabilitation start from the Kansas City Royals. Tulsa scored three runs before De La Rosa recorded an out. Jonathan Herrera drew a walk to start the game, and Chris Frey advanced him to second with a base hit. Christian Colonel followed with his 15th homer of the season to put the Drillers in front 3-0.

Duke Sardinha made it 5-0 in the second inning with a two-run homer, his 10th of the year.

Tulsa scored two runs each in the third and fourth innings off Wichita reliever Juan Cedeno. Jeff Dragicevich plated both runs in the third with a two-run double, while Aaron Rifkin did the same in the fourth inning to make it 9-0.

Dragicevich was also responsible for the tenth run when he hit a long, solo home run over the wall in left field wall in the seventh inning, his fifth of the year. The second baseman finished with three hits and three runs batted in.

The only run off Lo came in the third inning as Irving Falu walked and scored on a double by Geraldo Valentin.

The Drillers finished with 13 hits. Frey, Sardinha, Rifkin and Colonel had two hits each. Colonel also matched Dragicevich with three runs batted in.

A crowd of 3,319 watched the final game in Wichita.

Tulsa will now finish the regular season with a seven-game homestand. The Drillers open the stand with a big four-game series with Arkansas. In the series opener Tuesday night, Jon Asahina (2-4, 4.99 ERA) will pitch for the Drillers against Fernando Rodriguez (7-3, 4.10 ERA) of the Travelers. First pitch at Drillers Stadium will be at 7:05PM.

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