TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Long Night For Drillers

Published on July 3, 2007 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Neither rain nor heat nor gloom of no lights could keep the Tulsa Drillers from playing. On one of the longest nights of the season, the Drillers fell 7-3 to the Corpus Christi Hooks Monday night. The game did not end until early Tuesday morning after a 1 hour and 26 minute rain delay and a 53 minute delay due to the outfield lights malfunctioning.

For the second night in a row Corpus Christi opened up the first inning in big fashion. A pair of three-run home runs from J.R. Towles and Edwin Maysonette off Tulsa starter Franklin Morales gave the Hooks a quick 6-0 lead.

Things would only get worse from there for the Drillers. The rains hit Drillers Stadium with only two outs in the top of the first inning. After the delay, Tulsa was forced to remove Morales from the game after umpires ruled that manager Stu Cole was visiting the mound when the delay began. Jentry Beckstead took over for Morales and got the final out of the first inning.

The game experienced a second delay when the outfield lights went out in the top of the fifth inning. After they were restored, Jordan Czarniecki's two-run homer pulled the Drillers to within 6-2.

They got one run closer in the eighth inning when Chris Frey doubled home Rick Guarno.

Corpus Christi added one more run in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Ray Sadler that plated Towles to give the Hooks the 7-3 advantage.

Hooks starter German Melendez (3-1) threw well in his first career start. He worked five innings, allowing two runs off two hits while striking out four Drillers hitters. Melendez was thrust into the starter's role when scheduled starter Ronnie Martinez became ill.

The loss dropped Morales' record to 0-4. Five Drillers relievers combined to surrender only one run on six hits 8 1/3 innings.

The Drillers will now take Tuesday off before beginning a 6-game road trip on Wednesday in San Antonio against the Missions. Samuel Deduno (4-3, 4.66 ERA) will work the opener for Tulsa against Cesar Ramos (6-7, 3.90 ERA) of San Antonio. First pitch is set for 5:05 PM at Nelson W. Wolfe Stadium.

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Texas League Stories from July 3, 2007


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