Late Rally Sinks Drillers
June 26, 2008 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
June 26, 2008 - Thursday night, the Tulsa Drillers appeared to be well on their way to their seventh win in eight tries. The victory was not in the cards as the Corpus Christi Hooks rallied from three runs down to post a 4-3 win.
Drillers starting pitcher Alan Johnson led Tulsa through six scoreless innings allowing just three hits. The Drillers managed just five hits their first six at-bats against Corpus Christi starting pitcher Chance Douglass.
Their sixth hit in the top of the seventh proved to be a big one as third baseman Tony Blanco blasted his thirteenth home run of the year. Blanco is fresh of an All-Star game appearance in which he also homered.
Jeff Kindel followed the Blanco home run up with his second hit of the night, a single on a line drive to left. Two outs later, Justin Nelson homered to right field to put the Drillers on top 3-0. It was Nelson's eighth home run of the year.
The Hooks got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh. Val Majewski doubled off the center field wall to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Orlando Rosales singled Majewski home. Lou Santangelo followed the hit up with a double scoring Rosales. The Drillers avoided a possible big inning when Santangelo was thrown out at third by Nelson trying to stretch a double.
Darren Clarke replaced Johnson after the double and was able to induce a ground out from Rob Crosby.
Johnson finished his six and two-thirds innings only allowing two runs on six hits.
Johnson's strong start was all for not as the Hooks comeback was completed in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Ole Sheldon walked to lead off the inning. Majewski followed the walk with a sacrifice bunt against new pitcher Adam Bright who threw wildly allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Edward Valdez replaced Bright but gave up a game winning single to Eli Iorg.
Bright collected his third loss of the season while Valdez was credited with his third blown save.
The Drillers fell to 4-2 in the second half of the season while the Hooks improved to 2-5.
Both teams will meet again Friday night at 7:05 in Corpus Christi. The Drillers return home to Drillers Stadium July 3rd to take on the Hooks once again.
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Texas League Stories from June 26, 2008
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- Iorg, Blazek Right On Time - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders Rally for 5-3 Win; Fireworks at Hammons on Friday - Springfield Cardinals
- Late Rally Sinks Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Julio Pimentel Named to World Team for Futures Game - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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- The 1958 Texas League Champion Corpus Christi Giants - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals SS Sanchez Promoted to AAA - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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