Eight-Run Rally Stuns Drillers
Published on August 18, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
August 18, 2008 - The Tulsa Drillers have experienced several tough losses this season, but the most painful may have occurred Monday night. Leading 9-4 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Drillers watched as the first seven Midland batters of the inning hit safely and the RockHounds scored eight times to rally for an 12-9 victory.
The win gave Midland three come-from-behind victories in the four-game series in west Texas. The rally was also big because it kept the Hounds in a first-place tie with Frisco in the South Division standings of the Texas League.
Tulsa finished its 7-game road trip with a 2-5 record.
The fateful eighth inning for the RockHounds began with a base hit by Tommy Everidge off Tulsa reliever Andrew Johnston. Myron Leslie followed with his 10th home run of the season to trim Tulsa's lead to three runs.
Following the homer, Sean Doolittle doubled, and Tulsa summoned Eduardo Valdez from the bullpen. Anthony Recker, Justin Sellers and Adrian Cardenas greeted Valdez with three straight singles that cut the Drillers lead to 9-8.
Todd Donovan tied the game with a double that scored Sellers and left runners at second and third. After a strikeout and an intentional walk, Everidge, in his second at-bat of the inning, put the RockHounds in front with a two-run double off the wall in left field. A groundout by Leslie brought home the eighth and final run of the inning and gave Midland a 12-9 lead.
As they had done in the previous three games of the series, the Drillers took a quick lead by scoring in the top of the first inning. With one out in the first, Chris Nelson doubled and scored on a base hit by Tony Blanco.
The RockHounds took the lead with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Donovan led off with a triple and scored on a groundout by Javier Herrera. After another groundout, Everidge doubled and scored on a single by Jon Zeringue.
Tulsa tied the game at 2-2 in the second when Eduardo Cornejo singled and later scored on a groundout by Nelson.
The Drillers took the lead in the third on doubles by Jeff Kindel and Justin Nelson.
They expanded the lead with a four-run fourth inning. Eric Young Jr. and Chris Nelson opened the frame with consecutive singles. A sacrifice fly by Blanco plated Young, while Nelson scored on a two-out base hit by Daniel Carte. Justin Nelson doubled home Carte, and scored himself on a single by Gary Cates that put Tulsa in front 7-2.
It became 8-2 in the fifth when Young walked, stole second and eventually scored on another sacrifice fly from Blanco.
Midland cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Donovan and Richie Robnett singled in front of a double by Everidge that trimmed the lead to 8-3. The margin became four runs when Robnett came home on a groundout by Leslie.
The Drillers got one of the runs back in the seventh when Young doubled and scored on a base hit by Chris Nelson.
It capped a big night for Tulsa's top two hitters in the lineup. Young finished 2-4 with 2 stolen bases and 3 runs scored. Nelson went 3-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in.
Carte and Justin Nelson were both 2-5, while Blanco was 1-2 with 3 runs batted in.
Everidge, who had 3 homers and 10 RBIs in a game at Drillers Stadium earlier this season, enjoyed another big night. He was 4-5 with 3 doubles and 3 runs batted in.
The Drillers will now return home to begin the final homestand of the regular season Tuesday night. The stand will begin with a four-game series against Arkansas with Chaz Roe (5-3, 4.35 ERA) pitching the opener for Tulsa against Amalio Diaz (3-3, 3.66 ERA) of the Travelers.
Texas League Stories from August 18, 2008
- Travs Hit Hard In Finale - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards Clip Hooks, Sweep Series - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Eight-Run Rally Stuns Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards complete sweep - Springfield Cardinals
- Holland and Majewski lead Riders past Naturals - Frisco RoughRiders
- Texas League Newsletter No. 19 Part 2 - TL1
- Texas League report - TL1
- RockHounds tied for first - Midland RockHounds
- Naturals Partner With NWA Food Bank - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Return to Friendly Confines on Tuesday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Final Homestand August 19-25 - Tulsa Drillers
- Several Naturals Mentioned in 'Best Tools' Issue - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Rally Twice to Beat Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
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