Kehrt, Drillers Edge Naturals 3-2
Published on April 24, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Jeremy Kehrt turned in seven solid innings as the Drillers topped Northwest Arkansas 3-2 Friday night at ONEOK Field. (Rich Crimi)
The second game of a four-game series between Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas Friday night went very similar to the first game. Like Deck McGuire 24 hours earlier, Drillers starting pitcher Jeremy Kehrt worked seven solid innings to lead Tulsa to their second straight victory. Kehrt got offensive support from Peter Lavin who hit his first homer of the season and added a second RBI as Tulsa recorded a 3-2 victory at ONEOK Field.
The win was the seventh in the past nine games for the Drillers and improved their season record to 9-5.
Kehrt turned his best outing of the season in the victory. The right-hander allowed six hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. He issued one walk while registering five strikeouts in his seven innings, matching the longest outing of the year for a Tulsa hurler. The win was his first of the year and improved his record to 1-2.
A pair of solo homers opened the scoring for both teams. Northwest Arkansas leadoff hitter Angel Franco opened the game with a home run off Kehrt.
Tulsa's Peter Lavin matched Franco with a solo homer in the bottom of the third to even the score. The impressive drive was Lavin's first home run of the year and cleared the right field fence despite fighting a 17 m.p.h. wind.
Franco helped the Naturals go back in front in the top of the fifth. With two outs, he doubled down the right field line, and Dusty Coleman followed with a grounder wide of third. Daniel Mayora made a diving stop, but his throw to first skipped past Paul Hoenecke, allowing Franco to come home with the Naturals' second run.
Another error in the bottom half of the fifth allowed the Drillers to again tie the game. Travis Witherspoon led off with a base hit. The centerfielder swiped second base and moved to third on a throwing error by Naturals catcher Anderson De La Rosa. From there, Witherspoon came home on a ground out by Lavin to tie the score at 2-2.
Tulsa took the lead in the sixth inning. Mayora led off with a base hit, and Corey Seager followed with a ground-rule double. Mayora scored the go-ahead run when Brian Burgamy grounded an infield single deep into the hole at short. With runners at the corners and no outs, the Drillers missed an opportunity to add to their lead as the next three hitters were called out on strikes.
Ryan Dennick relieved Kehrt and recorded two outs in the eighth before issuing a walk. Blake Smith came on and struck out Balbino Fuenmayor and registered one out in the ninth before turning the game over to Jeremy Horst. Horst surrendered a bloop single before getting a game-ending double play.
The two teams will play the third game of their series Saturday night at ONEOK Field. The pitching matchup will feature Matt Shelton (1-0, 5.00 ERA) for Tulsa against J.C. Sulbaran (0-2, 5.40 ERA) of Northwest Arkansas. Starting time is slated for 7:05PM with a special edition of Fireworks scheduled for after the game.
Texas League Stories from April 24, 2015
- Travs Even Series with Friday Night Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Kehrt, Drillers Edge Naturals 3-2 - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Fall in 3-2 Loss at Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Friday Night's RoughRiders-Hooks Game Rained Out - Frisco RoughRiders
- Kansas City Royals Prospect Bubba Startling Promoted to Northwest Arkansas - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- CC Cruises in Series Opener - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Homestand Highlights: April 27 - May 4 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drama Committee - Midland RockHounds
- Lee and the Cards Blank the Travs, 5-0 - Springfield Cardinals
- Riders Fall to Hooks in Series Opener 8-2 - Frisco RoughRiders
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