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Tulsa Drillers

Late Tulsa Rally Comes up Just Short in 3-2 Loss

September 4, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Late Tulsa Rally Comes up Just Short in 3-2 Loss
Late Tulsa Rally Comes up Just Short in 3-2 Loss
(Tulsa Drillers, Credit: Rich Crimi)

Tulsa starter Isaac Anderson turned in his best performance as a Driller Sunday as he hurled five shutout innings in Tulsa's 3-2 loss. (Rich Crimi)

A sellout crowd of 7,891 packed ONEOK Field Sunday night as the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals played each other in the second-to-last game of the regular season. And it was an entertaining affair as the game came down to the wire with the Drillers trailing 3-2 going into the last of the ninth. But a controversial call abruptly ended the contest, leading the Drillers to a second straight defeat.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Tim Locastro worked a walk out of Springfield closer Kevin Herget to keep the Tulsa rally hopes alive. Alex Verdugo then followed with a sharp single through the right side that appeared to advance Locastro to third, putting the Drillers in prime position to mount a late rally. But the first base umpire ruled that the ground ball deflected off Locastro's heel at first base, resulting in an automatic out being called for runner's interference. That would be the final out of the game, bringing a sudden end to the Drillers' comeback aspirations.

The game began with a fine pitcher's duel as Isaac Anderson for Tulsa and Corey Baker for Springfield traded zeros back and forth.

The Cardinals had the first scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning when Luis Cruz led off the frame with a double. But the threat would be immediately neutralized when Cruz was caught in no man's land on the very next play on a ground ball to Jordan Tarsovich at third. A quick throw from Tarsovich to Locastro at second was in time to tag Cruz out as he tried to get back to the bag.

Springfield would put runners in scoring position again in the fourth and fifth innings, but Anderson was able to escape both times to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard.

Alex Verdugo was one of three Drillers to record a multi-hit game Sunday as he finished the evening 2-4.

Tulsa's first chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth when Verdugo and Willie Calhoun reached on a walk and a base hit to lead off the frame. But Baker was able to snuff out the rally with a double play ground ball by Kyle Farmer and a groundout by Edwin Rios to keep the game scoreless.

The bottom of the fifth would prove frustrating for the Drillers as they would see a golden scoring opportunity go to waste.

After Lars Anderson began the inning with a walk, Joey Curletta lined a booming double into centerfield. Unfortunately for Tulsa, the ball bounced out of play forcing Anderson to hold at third on the ground-rule double. Tarsovich would then strike out swinging before the Cardinals decided to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Dan Johnson to load the bases.

That move would pay off as Baker was able to get Locastro to ground into a force out at the plate and Verdugo to ground out to second to end the frame with the score still 0-0.

Facing reliever Michael Johnson to lead off the sixth, Paul DeJong launched his team-leading 22nd home run of the season to give Springfield a 1-0 advantage. But the inning was not over yet.

Following a one-out single by Alex Mejia and an errant pickoff throw by Johnson to move him to third, the Cardinals looked primed to add to their lead. But Curletta made sure that didn't happen as the right fielder caught a fly ball off the bat of Cole Lankford before firing a strong throw home to nab Mejia at the plate for an inning-ending double play.

But the Cardinals came back in the seventh inning as the St. Louis Cardinals #3 overall prospect, Harrison Bader, hit a two-run homer over the left field fence to make the score 3-0 Springfield.

The Drillers finally broke through in the home half of the seventh against reliever Trey Nielsen as Tyler Ogle came off the bench to pinch hit with Tarsovich on first and two outs. The University of Oklahoma alum put a charge into the crowd as he smoked an opposite field home run to bring Tulsa to within 3-2.

But that would be as close as the Drillers would get as the controversial call in the ninth would give the Cardinals the victory.

Baker was credited with his fourth victory of the season with his five shutout innings of work while Johnson saw his record drop to 2-2 after allowing the three runs in his two innings on the mound. Herget earned his 10th save of the year as he pitched the contentious ninth.

The Drillers and Cardinals will play the final contest of the regular season Monday evening at ONEOK Field with the game scheduled for a special Labor Day 6:05 PM start time. Getting the starting nod in the season finale for Tulsa will be RHP Seth Frankoff (3-3, 3.72 ERA). He will be opposed by LHP Austin Gomber (1-0, 1.17 ERA) for Springfield. Following the game will be one final fireworks spectacular.

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Late Tulsa Rally Comes up Just Short in 3-2 Loss
Late Tulsa Rally Comes up Just Short in 3-2 Loss
(Rich Crimi)		   

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