Drillers Use Late Rally to Top Missions
July 1, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers rallied with a big four-run eighth inning Friday night to post a 5-3 win over the San Antonio Missions in the Alamo City. The Drillers erased a one-run deficit with the rally, then held on over the final two innings to gain the win.
Trailing 2-1, Tulsa's pivotal inning began with an error, as leadoff batter Jordan Tarsovich reached safely when second baseman Nelson Ward misplayed his grounder. Tarsovich promptly tied the game when he scored on an RBI-double from pinch-hitter Lars Anderson.
After a bunt, base hit from Brandon Trinkwon put runners at the corners, Willie Calhoun put the Drillers in front with a sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Tim Shibuya. Trinkwon later scored on a base hit by Alex Verdugo to make it 4-2 before Cody Bellinger capped the big inning with a run-scoring triple that gave the Drillers a three-run cushion.
The Missions did not go away quietly, as they cut into the deficit with an unearned run of their own in the bottom half of the eighth. Rocky Gale drew a leadoff walk from reliever Chris Anderson, then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Gale came around to score on an infield hit from Ward as second baseman Calhoun threw wildly to first base in an attempt to record the third and final out of the inning.
San Antonio would get no closer as Daniel Corcino pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth to close out the victory. Corcino closed the game with a double play grounder to pick up his second save of the season.
Verdugo had given Tulsa an initial lead in the game. His ninth homer of the year, a solo shot in the second inning, opened the game's scoring.
Drillers starting pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla held the Missions scoreless through the first 4.2 innings before reaching his pitch limit.
San Antonio went in front with a pair of runs in the sixth off Scott Barlow. A two-run double from Franchy Cordero put the Missions in front 2-1, setting up the Drillers four-run rally in the eighth.
Joe Broussard worked a scoreless seventh inning to collect his first Double-A win.
Tulsa had 10 hits in the game, with three coming courtesy of Verdugo. Trinkwon, Bellinger and Jacob Scavuzzo picked up two hits each.
The win improved the Drillers second-half record to 6-4 and moved them into sole possession of first-place in the North Division standings of the Texas League.
The two teams have now split the first two games of their three-game series with the finale scheduled for Saturday night in San Antonio. Jeremy Kehrt (1-3, 5.74 ERA) will take the mound for the Drillers, while Dinelson Lamet (1-2, 4.29 ERA) will pitch for the Missions. Starting time is scheduled for 7:05pm at Nelson Wolff Stadium.
Texas League Stories from July 1, 2016
- Yu Darvish Rejoining Riders on Rehab Assignment Monday in Springdale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Use Late Rally to Top Missions - Tulsa Drillers
- Cardinals Win Fourth Straight - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Defense Costs Missions in Loss to Drillers - San Antonio Missions
- Riders Return Favor & Blank Travs Friday - Arkansas Travelers
- Rodriguez and Cardinals Slam Hooks, 11-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Midland Blasts Past Northwest Arkansas, 6-4 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Sadzeck Stymies Travs as Riders Begin July with Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Yu Darvish Rejoining Riders on Rehab Assignment Monday in Springdale - Frisco RoughRiders
- The Blair Witch Bat Project - Midland RockHounds
- Elmore and Yarbrough Elected to TL HOF - San Antonio Missions
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