Loss Leaves Drillers Tied For First
August 28, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers picked a bad night to play one of their sloppier games of the year. The Drillers pitching staff walked nine batters to match a season high, and the defense committed four errors in a 4-1 loss to the Arkansas Travelers Friday night at Drillers Stadium.
The lose proved costly as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals swept a doubleheader against the Springfield Cardinals Friday night to move into a first-place tie with the Drillers atop the North Division standings with 10 games remaining in the season.
The Tulsa offense did not help the cause, matching a season low with only two hits. Travelers' starter Amalio Diaz allowed only the two hits and the one run in six innings of work before getting relief help from Ryan Aldridge and Fernando Rodriguez.
Rodriquez worked the last 2 2/3 innings, holding the Drillers hitless while striking out five batters.
The Travelers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Hank Conger and Ryan Mount singled before moving to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Wil Ortiz. With Coby Smith batting, Tulsa starter Samuel Deduno uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Conger to race home with the game's first run. Deduno then walked Smith to load the bases, but he got out of the jam by striking out Peter Bourjos.
Tulsa tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. After a single by Michael Paulk and a walk by Jeff Kindel, both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Diaz. Mike McKenry then grounded out to second base, as Paulk raced home to tie the game.
Arkansas took the lead for good in the top of the fifth, once again scoring on a wild pitch from Deduno. Nate Sutton drew a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and eventually came home on Deduno's third wild pitch of the night.
The Travs extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the seventh. Bourjos walked, stole second and eventually scored on a double by Mark Trumbo. With Conger batting, Tulsa reliever Alberto Alburquerque threw a wild pitch that allowed Trumbo to move to third where he scored on a single by Mount.
The Drillers threatened in the bottom of the ninth as they brought the tying run to the plate, but Rodriquez got Daniel Carte to groundout to end the game.
Deduno (12-4) took the loss, giving up two runs off three hits, while walking six and striking out seven in six innings of work.
Diaz earned the win to improve his record to 3-6.
The Drillers will now travel to Springdale to begin a crucial three-game series with the Naturals on Saturday night. It is part of a seven-game road trip for the Drillers, their final one of the regular season.
Brandon Durden (7-2, 2.79 ERA) will start for Tulsa in the opener against Blake Johnson (7-8, 4.81 ERA) of the Naturals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Arvest Ballpark.
Texas League Stories from August 28, 2009
- Diaz & Travs Knock Tulsa Into Tie For First - Arkansas Travelers
- Loss Leaves Drillers Tied For First - Tulsa Drillers
- Frisco Topples San Antonio, 9-5 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Sweet Sixth: Naturals sweep twin-bill from Cards - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hounds Blank Hooks Again - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cards Crumble in the Sixth, Naturals Win, 3-2 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions do all the little things right to beat Frisco - San Antonio Missions
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