Error Sends Drillers to Loss in Urias Debut
Published on April 10, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Tulsa Drillers First Baseman Lars Anderson
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)
The Tulsa Drillers opened the season with 17 straight errorless innings, but their first miscue of the year Friday night proved costly. Tulsa and San Antonio were matched in a scoreless pitcher's duel through eight innings at ONEOK Field before a dropped fly ball in the ninth inning produced the only run of the game, sending the Missions to a 1-0 victory.
The loss for the Drillers came before a second straight sellout crowd in downtown Tulsa and evened their season record at 1-1.
The defeat spoiled the Double-A debut of 18-year-old Julio Urias. The Tulsa starting pitcher, rated as the eighth-best prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, lived up to the billing. He varied speeds throughout his 74-pitch outing and blanked the Missions on a pair of singles and one walk while striking out four.
Chris Reed followed Urias to the mound and was outstanding in his initial appearance of the season. The reliever worked three perfect innings and recorded four strikeouts in his flawless performance.
Only 24 hours after scoring 10 runs in a season-opening win, the Drillers' offense was kept off the scoreboard by San Antonio starting pitcher Colin Rea and reliever Brandon Alger. Rea surrendered seven hits but did not allow a run in seven innings. Alger retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings to collect the win.
Tulsa missed a great chance against Rea in the fourth inning. Lars Anderson led off with a base hit, and Brandon Dixon followed with a double that put runners at second and third with no outs. After Jeremy Hazelbaker was retired on strikes for the first out, the Drillers turned to a squeeze play, but Ali Solis popped his bunt attempt into the air, resulting in an inning-ending double play.
The lone run of the game came in the top of the ninth. Ralston Cash retired the first Missions hitter of the inning before walking Benji Gonzalez. Trea Turner popped out for the second out before Diego Goris extended the inning with a base hit. Cash quickly put Hunter Renfroe in a 0-2 hole with a pair of swinging strikes. Following a foul ball, Renfroe hit a fly into shallow left-center field that looked like the final out of the inning. Three Drillers converged on the fly, but the ball deflected off the glove of leftfielder Hazelbaker, allowing Gonzalez to race home with the only run of the game.
Tulsa lost despite out-hitting San Antonio 7-3. Anderson was the only player in the game with more than one hit, finishing 2-4 for the Drillers.
The Drillers and Missions will conclude their three-game series Saturday night at ONEOK Field. Deck McGuire will start the finale for Tulsa against Bryan Rodriguez of San Antonio. First pitch in downtown Tulsa is slated for 7:05PM.
Images from this story
 Tulsa Drillers First Baseman Lars Anderson (Rich Crimi) |
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