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TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Errors hurt Drillers

May 17, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The Tulsa Drillers entered Wednesday night's series opener in Wichita tied with San Antonio for the best fielding percentage in the Texas League. The Drillers hardly resembled the team that set that standard, committing three errors on Wednesday that led to four unearned runs that helped the Wranglers to a 7-3 win. The loss ended a 3-game winning streak for Tulsa, while the win pushed Wichita's winning streak to 5 games.

The Drillers fielding problems began early. In the top of the first inning, a throwing error by starting pitcher Alberto Arias put runners at first and second with nobody out. Shane Costa, on an injury rehabilitation assignment from the Kansas City Royals, took advantage of the error by plating the game's first run with an infield single.

In the second, a two-out error by second baseman Matt Macri prolonged the inning for Wichita, allowing Chris Lubanski to increase the lead to 2-0 with a run-scoring single.

In the top of the third, the Drillers got some help from the Wranglers when Jordan Czarniecki reached on an error and then scored on a base hit by Seth Smith.

Wichita answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning as third baseman Christian Colonel committed Tulsa's third error of the night that allowed Alex Gordon, who had walked, to score. Billy Butler, who reached on the error, later scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Wranglers in front 4-1.

Tulsa trimmed the lead to one in the fourth inning by scoring a pair of runs on four straight singles by Colonel, Alvin Colina, Czarniecki and Macri.

The Wranglers turned to their power to up the lead in the fifth inning. Gordon began the frame with a tape-measure home run far over the wall in right field. It was his 8th homer of the season. When Arias hit Billy Butler with a pitch, manager Stu Cole called on Jim Miller from the Drillers bullpen. Mitch Maier greeted Miller with the second homer of the inning, a towering drive over the wall in right field that gave Wichita a 7-3 lead. It was Maier's sixth home run of the year.

From there, pitching dominated the game. Thad Markray, who relived starter Chad Smith with one out in the top of the fifth, worked 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings to gain the win. Ryan Braun got the final four outs of the game for the Wranglers.

The Tulsa bullpen also pitched well. Jason Burch worked the sixth and seventh innings without allowing a hit, and Manuel Corpas worked a perfect eighth inning.

The Drillers actually out-hit the Wranglers 10-8 in the game. Smith, Colina and Czarniecki each collected two hits for the Drillers.

The loss dropped Tulsa two games behind Springfield in the North Division standings. The Cardinals were 8-4 winners over Arkansas on Wednesday.

The Drillers and Wranglers will continue their series Thursday morning in Wichita. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00AM.

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Texas League Stories from May 17, 2006


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