Drillers Win Behind Rogers
June 13, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
In desperate need of win Saturday night to keep their first-half championship hopes alive, the Tulsa Drillers got another impressive outing from starting pitcher Esmil Rogers. Rogers blanked Springfield for eight innings as Tulsa defeated the Cardinals 3-0 at Drillers Stadium.
The win moved the Drillers to within three games of the first-place Redbirds in the North Division standings of the Texas League with ten games remaining in the first half.
For Rogers, it was a return to dominating form. In six starts from April 29 through June 3, he allowed only four earned runs before allowing six runs in his last start on June 8 in Midland.
Working quickly, Rogers allowed only five hits in eight shutout innings against the Cardinals. He did not walk a batter while striking out a season high 10. The eight innings were also a season high for the right-hander.
For three innings, it looked as if neither team would score. Springfield starting pitcher Lance Lynn had faced the minimum nine hitters through the first three innings before having control problems in the fourth when he loaded the bases with three walks. With one out, Darin Holcomb made Lynn pay for the wildness with a run-scoring base hit to right field that opened the game's scoring. The lead grew to 2-0 on Cole Garner's sacrifice fly.
Daniel Mayor led off the sixth inning with a double into the left field corner and then advanced to third on a base hit by Michael Paulk. With Mike McKenry at the plate, Paulk broke for second and was caught in a rundown. He was eventually tagged out, but Mayora was able to race home on the play with Tulsa's third run of the game.
Tulsa closer Andrew Johnston came in for Rogers to pitch the ninth inning. He issued a leadoff walk to Mark Descalso before retiring the next three hitters to preserve the Drillers seventh shutout of the season. For Johnston, it was his Texas League leading 17th save of the season.
The Drillers will open an 8-day road trip Sunday afternoon in Springdale against Northwest Arkansas. First pitch Sunday at Arvest Park is scheduled for 2:35PM.
Joey Williamson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start for the Drillers, while Robinson Tejeda (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his second start for the Naturals as he continues a major league injury rehabilitation stint. Tejeda has made 12 relief appearances with the Kansas City Royals this season with a 2.65 ERA.
Texas League Stories from June 13, 2009
- Hooks Yank Hounds⦠Again - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals rout Travs to complete 5-game sweep - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals complete rare five-game sweep - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cards Blanked 3-0 on Saturday - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Win Behind Rogers - Tulsa Drillers
- Nathan's Famous - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Swept For A Second Straight Night - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Stomp Cards on Friday - Springfield Cardinals
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