Drillers Thumped by Cardinals
Published on July 24, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers looked to get back on track on Tuesday night after knocking only three singles the night before. Despite the Tulsa bats hitting four extra-base hits, the Springfield Cardinals exploded for 18 hits, including six homers, and thumped the Drillers 16-5 at ONEOK Field.
After the Cardinals were retired in order to start the game, the Drillers quickly got the scoring started in the bottom of the first. Luke Raley doubled to start the inning, and Zach McKinstry followed with an RBI single to put Tulsa on the board. Cardinals starter Elniery Garcia then balked, allowing McKinstry to advance to third. Jacob Scavuzzo brought him home with a sacrifice fly to give the Drillers a 2-0 lead.
The Drillers lead quickly vanished after the Cardinals popped four home runs and plated ten runs over the next four innings. With two Cards on base in the top of the second, Andy Young gave Springfield the lead with his first homer of the season. An inning later, Lane Thomas and Evan Mendoza each hit solo home runs.
In the top of the fourth, Young started the inning with his second long-ball in as many at-bats. The Cardinals offense continued the inning with a single, a triple and another single to further advance the Springfield lead.
The top of the fifth started with former Driller Johan Mieses doubling, a walk and a wild pitch. Young then continued to hurt Tulsa with a two-run single to extend the Springfield lead to 10-2.
The first inning single by McKinstry was the last hit the Drillers had before the sixth inning. With two outs, the McKinstry started a rally after legging out an infield single. Will Smith then walked and Scavuzzo plated the third Drillers run with an RBI double.
After adding another run in the seventh, the Cards went on to add five more in the eighth. Thomas started the inning with his second homer of the game, then A fielding error and a walk set up a John Nogowski three-run homer. Another Mieses double and an RBI single by Knizner capped the five-run inning and gave Springfield a 16-3 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Errol Robinson and Will Smith each smashed a home run to cut the deficit to 16-5, but the damage was done and the Cardinals took home the win.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*The Dodgers made a number of roster changes on Monday that affected the Drillers. Andrew Sopko was placed on the disabled list and Logan Bawcom was promoted to Oklahoma City. Madison Younginer was transferred to Tulsa from Oklahoma City and McKinstry was called up to Tulsa from Rancho Cucamonga.
*McKinstry had a nice 2018 Drillers debut after being called up from Rancho Cucamonga, going 2-4 with an RBI. The infielder played 15 games with Tulsa in 2017, hitting .256 with a pair of RBI.
*Scavuzzo now hit safely in 25 of his last 26 games.
*The Cardinals launched six home runs on Tuesday, the most Drillers pitching has given up in a game all season.
*The 18 hits given up by the Drillers were the most given up this season since May 20 when they gave up 19 to Arkansas.
*After starting the second-half of the season blistering hot, the Drillers have now dropped their second straight series and have lost five of their last six contests.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will look to salvage the third and final game of the series as they match up against the Cardinals on Wednesday night. First pitch at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM, and the probable starting pitchers will be:
SPR Connor Jones (5-4, 4.08 ERA
TUL Kyle Lobstein (0-1, 2.12 ERA)
Texas League Stories from July 24, 2018
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- Drillers Thumped by Cardinals - Tulsa Drillers
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- Riders Among Top 25 Minor League Teams in 2017 Merchandise Sales - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals, American Red Cross Partner on Blood Drive - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Warner Leads Cards to Second Straight Shutout Win, 8-0 in Tulsa - Springfield Cardinals
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