TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Drillers Win in Fresno

Published on August 8, 2007 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The Tulsa Drillers won five of seven games in their just-completed homestand, and they continued their strong play Wednesday night in the opening game of six-game road trip. Tulsa broke a 3-3 tie with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to post a 5-3 victory over the Frisco RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

The victory improved the Drillers record in August to 6-1. During the entire month of July, they won only 9 games. The win also allowed them to pick up one game on both first-place Springfield and second-place Arkansas in the North Division standings. The Drillers now trail the Cards by 2.5 games and the Travs by 1.5 games.

Tulsa won Wednesday despite relinquishing a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning as Judd Songster surrendered a walk and a single with one out. Juan Morillo relieved and was greeted with a run-scoring single by John Mayberry that tied the game. Morillo avoided further trouble by striking out the next two hitters.

The Drillers game-deciding ninth began with a walk to Chris Frey and a single by Christian Colonel. Aaron Rifkin put Tulsa back in front with a bouncer through the hole at second that scored Frey. After Tino Sanchez struck out, Matt Macri provided an insurance run with a base hit that plated Colonel.

Steven Register made sure the lead held as he worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth to record his Texas League-leading 33rd save.

Tulsa fell behind early in the game when Taylor Teagarden blasted a long, two-run homer to left off Ryan Mattheus that gave the RoughRiders a 2-0 lead.

The Drillers got a run back in the third as Jonathan Herrera singled and scored on a base hit by Rifkin. They tied the game in the fourth as Duke Sardinha doubled and then scored on a single by Rick Guarno.

It remained tied at 2-2 until the top of the eighth when Matt Miller and Sardinha drew two-out walks in front of a run-scoring hit by Guarno.

Rifkin led Tulsa, going 3-4 with two runs batted in. Guarno also collected two RBI with a 2-4 night.

Mattheus struck out a season high ten batters in seven innings of work. He received a no decision despite allowing only four hits and two runs. Morillo was credited with the win to improve to 5-4.

The Drillers and RoughRiders will play game two of their three-game series Friday night. Ching-Lung Lo will pitch for Tulsa against Luis Mendoza of Frisco with first pitch set for 7:00PM at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

NOTES: Tulsa catcher Tommy Duenas was promoted to Triple A Colorado Springs before the game. . . .Register needs only four more saves to match the team record of 37 saves in a season set by Ryan Speier in 2004. . . .Frisco's Mayberry is the son of former Kansas City Royals first baseman John Mayberry Sr.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 8, 2007


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