Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome for Tulsa
Published on September 4, 2016 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
An energetic crowd of 7,014 filled ONEOK Field Saturday night to celebrate the Labor Day Weekend as the Tulsa Drillers played the first of their final three games of the season. But the Springfield Cardinals looked like a club in prime playoff form as they scored nine runs through the first three innings before cruising to an 11-2 victory over the Drillers.
Having already secured a playoff berth after winning the first half title in the Texas League North Division, the Cardinals wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. The Redbirds took an early lead as they scored twice in the top of the first inning against Tulsa starter Jeremy Kehrt on run-scoring hits by Luke Voit and Jacob Wilson. Following a quiet second inning, the Springfield bats exploded in the third.
Utilizing a total of eight hits, with five of those knocks going for doubles, the Cardinals brought an early end to Kehrt's night with seven runs in the frame.
It was a rough night for Kehrt as the veteran right-hander was starting just two days after throwing an inning of relief for the Oklahoma City Dodgers. Chase De Jong was originally scheduled to pitch for the Drillers before he switched places with Kehrt after receiving a promotion to Triple-A earlier in the day.
After serving up the fifth double of the third inning, Kehrt was removed in favor of reliever Dan Johnson. The knuckleballer promptly retired Blake Drake on a swinging strikeout to finally bring an end to the extended frame.
Johnson would go on to turn in the longest relief appearance by a Drillers pitcher this season as he tossed the rest of the ballgame to save the Tulsa bullpen. He would give up just a run in the fifth and another in the seventh as he ended up going 6.1 innings while racking up five strikeouts with his dancing knuckler.
Meanwhile, Springfield starter Johnny Walter had one of his best outings of the season. Just five days removed from giving up five runs to the Drillers his last time out, Walter earned his first career Double-A victory with six strong innings of work. The righty did not allow a run through the first five innings before Edwin Rios finally broke up the shutout bid with an RBI double to center to score Kyle Garlick from first.
After the Cardinals scored in the seventh to make the score 11-1, the Drillers earned a moral victory in the bottom of the ninth with a run on an RBI single by Joey Curletta to bring the score to its final tally of 11-2.
Kehrt took the loss for Tulsa as his record with the Drillers dropped to 4-6. Walter saw his record improve to 1-6 with the win.
Texas League Stories from September 4, 2016
- Late Tulsa Rally Comes up Just Short in 3-2 Loss - Tulsa Drillers
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- Naturals Walk-Off Travs to Reclaim Share of First Place - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Perseverance Personified - San Antonio Missions
- Riders Game Notes - DH at 4:30 p.m. vs. Midland - Frisco RoughRiders
- Riders Game Notes - DH at 4:30 p.m. vs. Midland - Frisco RoughRiders
- Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome for Tulsa - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Hang with Midland Early Before 'Hounds Run Away with 10-3 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
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