Drillers Win With 2-Out Rallies
Published on April 15, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
On paper, Tuesday morning's match up between Tulsa's Brandon Hynick and San Antonio's Will Inman figured to be a pitcher's duel. It turned out to be anything but that, as the Drillers came from behind twice to post an 11-5 win over the Missions. The victory allowed Tulsa to finish its first homestand of the year with a 3-3 record. Tulsa benefited from seven walks issued by Missions pitchers and from two San Antonio errors. All 11 runs scored with two out and the first seven were unearned.
San Antonio struck quickly in the game as leadoff hitter Drew Macias walked, stole second and scored on a base hit by Chad Huffman. A double by Pete Ciofrone brought Huffman home to make it 2-0.
The Drillers responded in the bottom of the first. With one out, Dexter Fowler reached on an error. After stealing second base, he scored on a two-out hit by Matt Miller. Daniel Carte (pictured) then gave Tulsa its first lead with a towering home run over the net in left field that made it 3-2. It was Carte's fourth home run of the season.
The Missions tied it with a run in the third, then regained the lead with a two of runs in the fourth inning. Matt Stocco led off with his first Double A homer to put San Antonio in front 4-3. Consecutive doubles by Inman and Macias increased the margin to 5-3. After a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, Eduardo Valdez came on for Hynick. With the bases loaded and no outs, Valdez kept the deficit at two runs with a fly ball out and a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
Tulsa took the lead for good with a two-out uprising in the bottom of the fourth. Inman could have been out of the inning, but Corey Wimberly reached on an error by shortstop Sean Kazmar. The error proved big as Fowler walked and Chris Nelson singled home Wimberly. Jon Ellis relieved Inman and gave the Drillers two more runs with consecutive bases loaded walks. A passed ball allowed another run to score and give the Drillers a 7-5.
That was all that Valdez needed. He did not allow a single base runner over the next three innings. For the day, Valdez worked four perfect innings with three strikeouts.
The Tulsa offense added another run in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh. Fowler doubled home Wimberly for the run in the fifth. In the seventh, Nelson produced his second run-scoring single, and Matt Miller capped the scoring with a two-run double.
The double was Miller's third hit of the day. He finished 3-4, and like Carte, added three runs batted in. Nelson added two hits and two runs knocked in.
Valdez evened his record at 1-1 with the victory. His four innings were the most by a Tulsa reliever this year.
Ryan Mattheus and Pedro Strop wrapped up the win, each throwing a scoreless inning.
Tulsa will have Wednesday off before beginning a four-game series in Springfield Thursday night. Ching-Lung Lo (0-2, 10.80 ERA) will pitch the opener for the Drillers against Clayton Mortensen (0-1, 5.19 ERA) of the Cardinals. First pitch will be at 7:10PM at Hammons Field.
Texas League Stories from April 15, 2008
- Hooks Win, Naturally - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Long Ball Dooms Naturals Monday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cards "Rock" Hounds for 9-1 Win, Return to Hammons Thursday! - Springfield Cardinals
- Arkansas Diamond Series Begins Thursday - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals Partner With 40/29 To Help River Valley Tornado Victims - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Grab Hold For 8-Game Homestand - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Texas League Newsletter '08 No. 1 - TL1
- Drillers Win With 2-Out Rallies - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Bounce Back, Beat Naturals - Corpus Christi Hooks
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